Inspection system and management system

ABSTRACT

When an unfair gaming currency is delivered to a dealer from a player, the currency is detected as unfair. The inspection system for inspecting the gaming currency, in which an RF tag is built, comprises: a gaming currency tray for housing the gaming currencies of the dealer in a casino game; an RF reader for reading the RF tags of the plural gaming currencies housed in the gaming currency tray; plural photosensors for detecting at least the number of the plural gaming currencies housed in the gaming currency tray at a constant time interval or always in a method other than RFID; and an inspection/alarm part for generating alarms when the number of the gaming currencies whose RF tags are read by the RF reader is not equal to the number of the gaming currencies detected by the plural photosensors.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. pat. app. Ser. No.17/142,362 filed Jan. 6, 2021, which is a continuation from U.S. pat.app. Ser. No. 16/743,457 filed Jan. 15, 2020 (now U.S. pat. Ser. No.10,916,089), which is a continuation from U.S. pat. app. Ser. No.16/322,598 filed Feb. 1, 2019 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,878,656), which is anational phase application under 35 USC § 371 of Int'l Pat. App. No.PCT/JP2017/025796 filed Jul. 14, 2017, which claims the benefits ofint'l Pat. App. No. PCT/JP2016/072673 filed Aug. 2, 2016, JP Pat. App.No. 2016-225540 filed Nov. 18, 2016, and JP Pat. App. No. 2017-100318filed Apr. 29, 2017; each application is incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an inspection system for gamingcurrencies (gaming chips) in a gaming house.

In game houses such as casinos, there are various attempts forpreventing fraud. A game house includes monitoring cameras used formonitoring fraud and prevents fraud by determining fraud of a game,fraud according to collection or repayment of gaming currency that isdifferent from the result of win/loose, and the like based on an imageacquired from the monitoring camera.

Meanwhile, in order to perceive the number or a total amount of betgaming currency, it has been proposed to perceive the amount of gamingcurrency by attaching a radio IC (RFID) tag to each gaming currency.

In a card game monitoring system disclosed in WO 2015/107902 A, it isdetermined whether or not gaming currency placed on a game table iscollected or re-payed according to a result of win/loose by performingan image analysis of the movement of gaming currency, whereby fraud ismonitored.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An objection of the present invention is to detect unfairness when anunfair gaming currency or an unfair object is presented.

An inspection system in one embodiment of the present invention is aninspection system for inspecting a gaming currency in which an RF tag isbuilt, comprising: a housing means for housing gaming currencies of adealer in a casino game; an RF reading means for reading the RF tags ofthe plural gaming currencies housed in the housing means; a detectionmeans for detecting at least the number of the plural gaming currencieshoused in the housing means by a method other than an RFID at constanttime intervals or always; and an alarm means for generating an alarmwhen the number of the gaming currencies whose RF tags are read by theRF reading means is not equal to the number of the gaming currenciesdetected by the detection means.

The inspection system in another embodiment of the present invention isan inspection system for inspecting a gaming currency used for a gameplayed on a table, comprising a housing means installed on the table,the housing means housing plural gaming currencies, the number of theplural gaming currencies being increased or decreased for each game, andan inspection means for inspecting the gaming currencies, the number ofthe gaming currencies being increased or decreased for each game in thehousing means.

The inspection system in further another embodiment of the presentinvention is an inspection system for inspecting a gaming currency inwhich an RF tag is built, comprising: a housing means capable of housinga predetermined number of gaming currencies; an RF reading means forreading RF tags of the plural gaming currencies housed in the housingmeans; and an alarm means for generating an alarm when the number of thegaming currencies whose RF tags are read by the RF reading means is notequal to the predetermined number.

The inspection system in further another embodiment of the presentinvention is not limited to an inspection system for inspecting gamingcurrencies, and can be applied as an inspection system for inspecting anarbitrary valuable in which the RF tag is built. In this case, avaluable inspection system comprises: a valuable to which a unique IDthat is individually identifiable is attached; a table on which thevaluable is used; a tray for holding the valuable on the table; adetermination means for specifying the number of valuables held on thetray using each unique ID; a detection means for shooting the valuableson the table including at least the tray to create an image, anddetecting at least the number of the valuables based on the image; astorage means for storing the number detected by the detection means;and an inspection means for inspecting a relationship between the numberdetermined by the determination means and the number detected by thedetection means.

An inspection system in further another embodiment of the presentinvention is an inspection system for inspecting an object in which anRF tag is built, comprising: an RF reading means for reading an RF tagof an object located at a predetermined place; a detection means fordetecting at least the number of objects located at the predeterminedplace by a method other than an RFID; and an alarm means for generatingan alarm when the number of the objects whose RF tags are read by the RFreading means is not equal to the number detected by the detectionmeans.

A management system in one embodiment of the present invention is avaluable management system comprising: a valuable to which a unique IDthat is individually identifiable is attached; a table on which thevaluable is used; a tray for holding the valuable on the table; adetermination device for specifying a kind and the number of valuablesheld on the tray using each unique ID; a management control device fordetermining abnormality of the valuable based on the ID; and a measuringdevice for measuring the number of the valuables on the table includingat least the tray by using a camera, wherein the management controldevice has a function for specifying and storing the number of thevaluables on the tray by using measuring results of the measuringdevice, and the management control device further has a function forinspecting a relationship between information of the ID obtained by thedetermination device and information read by the measuring device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of the whole frauddetecting system in a game house including a plurality of gaming tablesaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of gaming currency illustrating an exampleof another overlapping state of gaming currency perceived according tothe first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of gaming currency illustrating an exampleof another overlapping state of gaming currency perceived according tothe first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged diagram of a mark illustrating contamination of acard perceived according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4A is a plan view illustrating the front side of a marker.

FIG. 4B is a plan view illustrating the back side of a marker.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram simplifying a video of the state ofexchange of bills and gaming currency perceived according to the firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating an overview of the whole managementsystem for table games in a game house according to a second embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of conventional gaming currency.

FIG. 8 is a side-face cross-sectional view of gaming currency accordingto the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a side view of gaming currency according to the secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9B is a side view of gaming currency according to the secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating another example of gaming currencyaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10B is a diagram illustrating another example of gaming currencyaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a state in which gaming currency ispiled according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective explanatory photographic diagram illustrating astate in which different kinds of gaming currency are piled.

FIG. 13A is a diagram illustrating details of a tray for gaming currencyaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13B is a diagram illustrating another example of a tray for gamingcurrency according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14A is a diagram illustrating a relation between a tray for gamingcurrency having a two-stage structure and a camera device 2 and is adiagram illustrating a state in which two stages are overlapped.

FIG. 14B is a diagram illustrating a relation between a tray for gamingcurrency having a two-stage structure and a camera device 2 and is adiagram illustrating a state in which two stages are shifted from eachother.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an inspection device inspecting gamingcurrency according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an overview of the whole managementsystem for gaming currency according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 17 is a side view of gaming currency according to the thirdembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating gaming currency configuring a code(four kinds) using upper and lower marks C as a pair.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating gaming currency in which side IDs areprinted using ink (ink absorbing infrared rays) that is invisible forvisible light.

FIG. 20A is a plan view of a main part of a tray for gaming currencyillustrating a state in which gaming currency according to the thirdembodiment is held in a tray for gaming currency of a casino table.

FIG. 20B is a perspective view of a state in which gaming currency ispiled.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating another example of gaming currencyaccording to the third embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating another example of an inspectiondevice inspecting gaming currency.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating another example of an inspectiondevice inspecting gaming currency.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating another example of an inspectiondevice inspecting gaming currency.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a configuration of an inspection system ina fourth embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a gaming currency in the fourthembodiment.

FIG. 27 is a side view of the gaming currency in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of an image obtained by shootingthe plural gaming currencies in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of code informationin the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the inspectiondevice in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a case in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a case in a modification example in thefourth embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a plan view of the case in the modification example in thefourth embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a diagram for explaining an example of a usage aspect of aninspection system together with distribution of gaming currencies in thefourth embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing an example of contents of informationstored in a use management device in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing an example of contents of information to beread out in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 37 is a diagram for explaining a first method of determining passor fail in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 38 is a diagram for explaining a second method of determining passor fail in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 39 is a diagram for explaining a third method of determining passor fail in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 40 is a diagram for explaining a fourth method of determining passor fail in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 41 is a diagram for explaining a fifth method of determining passor fail in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 42 is a diagram indicating an example of a good/bad results displayscreen for displaying pass/fail results (pass results) in the fourthembodiment.

FIG. 43 is a diagram indicating an example of a good/bad results displayscreen for displaying pass/fail results (fail results) in the fourthembodiment.

FIG. 44 is a diagram indicating a modification example of an RFIDantenna of an inspection device in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 45 is a side view of a gaming currency in a modification example inthe fourth embodiment.

FIG. 46 is a side sectional view of a gaming currency in a modificationexample in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 47 is a perspective view of a gaming currency in the modificationexample in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 48 is a side view of a gaming currency in the modification examplein the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 49 is a plan view of a gaming currency in the modification examplein the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 50 is a diagram indicating an example of an image obtained byshooting the stacked gaming currencies in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 51 is a diagram indicating a configuration of an inspection systemin the modification example in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 52 is a diagram indicating a configuration of an inspection systemin the modification example in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 53 is a diagram indicating a configuration of an inspection systemin a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 54 is a block diagram indicating a configuration of an inspectiondevice in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 55 is a perspective view of a case in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 56 is a perspective view of the case in the modification example inthe fifth embodiment.

FIG. 57 is a plan view of the case in the modification example in thefifth embodiment.

FIG. 58 is a side sectional view of a gaming currency in the fifthembodiment.

FIG. 59 is a diagram indicating an example of an image obtained byshooting the stacked gaming currencies in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 60 is a diagram indicating an example of a good/bad results displayscreen for displaying pass/fail results (pass results) in the fifthembodiment.

FIG. 61 a diagram indicating an example of a good/bad results displayscreen for displaying pass/fail results (fail results) in the fifthembodiment.

FIG. 62 is a diagram for explaining an example of a usage aspect of aninspection system together with distribution of the gaming currencies inthe fifth embodiment.

FIG. 63 is a diagram indicating a configuration of an inspection devicein another embodiment in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 64 is a plan view of a gaming currency tray for housing the gamingcurrency in a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 65 is a diagram indicating an antenna of an RF reader in the sixthembodiment.

FIG. 66 is an enlarged plan view and a front-direction cross sectionview of a groove in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 67 is a diagram indicating an entire configuration of theinspection system in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 68 is a plan view indicating another example of a gaming currencytray in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 69 is a plan view indicating a further example of a gaming currencytray in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 70 is a plan view indicating a further example of a gaming currencytray in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 71 is a diagram indicating another configuration of an RF antennain the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 72 is a diagram indicating one groove of the gaming currency trayusing a line sensor as a detection means in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 73 is a diagram indicating an entire configuration of an inspectionsystem 600 in the example of FIG. 72.

FIG. 74 is a diagram indicating one groove of the gaming currency trayusing a scanner as the detection means in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 75 is a diagram indicating an entire configuration of theinspection system 600 in the example of FIG. 74.

FIG. 76 is a diagram indicating one groove of the gaming currency trayusing a laser distance meter as the detection means in the sixthembodiment.

FIG. 77 is a diagram indicating the entire configuration of theinspection system 600 in the example of FIG. 76.

FIG. 78 is a diagram indicating one groove of the gaming tray using aweight meter as the detection means in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 79 is a diagram indicating the entire configuration of theinspection system 600 in the example of FIG. 78.

FIG. 80 is a diagram indicating a status that a vacant space of thegroove is filled by a spacer in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 81 is a diagram indicating the entire configuration of theinspection system 600 in the example of FIG. 80.

FIG. 82 is a diagram of the entire configuration of the inspectionsystem for inspecting an object, in which an RF tag is built, in thesixth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In game houses such as casinos, while gaming currency is piled to have ahigh volume and is placed on a game table, there is a problem in that atotal amount cannot be correctly read by a reading device for IC tagsdisposed under the game table, and, when the sensitivity of the readingdevice is increased, gaming currency or gaming placed at a differentposition (winning/losing depends on the position) is added, and there isa problem in that a total amount of gaming currency at each positioncannot be perceived. In addition, in imaging using a camera, there is aproblem in that a blind area is generated according to the viewing angleof the camera, or gaming currency enters a shadow due to overlapping,and thus, there is a problem in that a total amount of gaming currencycannot be perceived.

In addition, according to player's squeeze (a behavior for seeing a cardlittle by little by bending a card facing the back side while enjoyingthe rank of the card or the like) of a card, which is frequentlyperformed in a Baccarat game, or the like, the card is bent, and thereis a problem in that the rank and the suit of the card cannot bedetermined through an analysis of an image acquired from a camera.

Furthermore, fraud on a game table has been advanced, and there is a newproblem in that fraud using an advanced betting method or the like thatcannot be found in simple detection of a large winning amount on a gametable or the like cannot be found by using a camera or tracking awinning amount. In addition, the prevention of fraud according to aconspiracy of a dealer and a player is not sufficient according to theconventional technology.

In order to solve the various problems described above, a frauddetecting system according to a first embodiment in a game houseincluding a plurality of game tables is a fraud detecting system in agame house including a plurality of game tables and includes: a gamerecording device that records a state of progress of a game performed oneach of the game table as a video including a dealer and a playerthrough a camera; an image analyzing device that performs an imageanalysis of the recorded video of the state of progress of the game; acard distributing device that determines and displays a result ofwinning/losing of each game in the game table; and a control device thatdetects fraud performed in the game table by using a result of the imageanalysis performed by the image analyzing device and the result ofwinning/losing determined by the card distributing device.

In addition, in the fraud detecting system, the card distributing devicehas a structure capable of reading the rank of each distributed card,and the control device has a structure capable of determiningmatch/mismatch by combining information of a rank acquired by the imageanalyzing device from a video of each card distributed in the game tableand information of a rank of a card read by the card distributing device

In addition, in the fraud detecting system, the image analyzing deviceor the control device has an artificial intelligence-utilizing ordeep-learning structure capable of acquiring information of a rank of acard from a card that is distributed in the game table and is bent bythe player or is contaminated.

Furthermore, in the fraud detecting system, the control device acquiresthe position, the kind, and the quantity of gaming currency that is betby each player through the image analyzing device and determines whetheror not collection of losing gaming currency that is bet by each playerand repayment for the winning gaming currency are appropriatelyperformed according to the result of winning/losing of the game byanalyzing the video of the state of progress of the game through theimage analyzing device.

In addition, in the fraud detecting system, the image analyzing deviceor the control device has an artificial intelligence-utilizing ordeep-learning structure capable of acquiring information of the kind,the quantity, and the position of the bet gaming currency also in astate in which a plurality of gaming currency placed on a game table isin a state in which a part or the whole one is hidden according to ahidden area of the camera.

Furthermore, in the fraud detecting system, the control device has anartificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable ofcomparing/calculating whether or not the amount of gaming currencyperceived in a dealer's tray for gaming currency in the game table isincreased/decreased according to the collection of losing gamingcurrency that is bet by each player and a paid amount for winning gamingcurrency based on a result of winning/losing of the game after the gameends and a settlement.

In addition, in the fraud detecting system, the control device has anartificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable ofacquiring the position and the amount of gaming currency that is bet ateach play position of the game table and extracting an abnormalsituation by comparing a winning/losing history and an acquired amountof gaming currency for each player that are acquired from a result ofwinning/losing of each game with statistical data of past game.

Furthermore, in the fraud detecting system, the control device has anartificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable ofextracting an abnormal situation by comparing a state in which theamount of the bet gaming currency at the time of losing is smaller thanthe amount of the bet gaming currency at the time of losing at a playposition of a game table with statistical data of past games.

In addition, in the fraud detecting system, the control device has astructure capable of specifying whether the abnormal situation isextracted through the image analyzing device or an individual player ata play position at which winning of a predetermined amount of more isacquired.

Furthermore, in the fraud detecting system, the control device has awarning function for giving a notification of the presence of a specificplayer at another game table when the specified player leaves the seatand arrives at the another game table.

In order to solve the various problems described above, according to thepresent invention, a fraud detecting system in a game house including aplurality of game tables includes: a game recording device that recordsa state of progress of a game performed on each of the game table as avideo including a dealer and a player through a camera; a carddistributing device that determines a result of winning/losing of eachgame in the game table; an image analyzing device that performs an imageanalysis of the recorded video of the state of processing of the game;and a control device that can detect bills and gaming currency in thegame table by using a result of the image analysis performed by theimage analyzing device, and the image analyzing device or the controldevice has an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learningstructure capable of detecting exchange of bills and gaming currency inthe game table in a situation other than in the middle of dealing cardsbased on information acquired from the card distributing device or thedealer, recognizing a total amount of genuine bills verified using amongthe bills and capable of recognizing a total amount of gaming currencyalso in a state in which a plurality of gaming currency come out ontothe game table as an exchange target is in a state in which a part orthe whole one is hidden due to a blind area of the camera and comparinga total amount of bills come out from the player onto the game table anda total amount of gaming currency come out from the dealer with eachother and determining whether or not the both quantities match.

In addition, in the fraud detecting system, the control device has anartificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable ofcomparing/calculating whether or not the amount of gaming currencyperceived in a dealer's tray for gaming currency in the game table isincreased/decreased according to a payed amount of gaming currencycorresponding to exchanged bills after a settlement through exchange ofbills and gaming currency.

Furthermore, in the fraud detecting system, the control device has anartificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable ofcomparing/calculating match/mismatch of an input amount of billsaccording to a dealer's input and a total amount of bills according to aresult of the image analysis performed by the image analyzing deviceafter the settlement through exchange of bills and gaming currency. Inaddition, the control device has an artificial intelligence-utilizing ordeep-learning structure capable of comparing/calculating match/mismatchof a total input amount of bills according to a dealer's input in thegame table for which the dealer is responsible and a total amount ofbills according to a result of the image analysis performed by the imageanalyzing device.

According to a fraud detecting system according to this embodiment, alsowhen a card is bent according to player's squeeze of the card that isfrequently performed in a Baccarat game or the like, the rank and thesuit of the card can be determined through an image analysis, and atotal amount of gaming currency disposed in the blind area oroverlapping gaming currency can be perceived together with the position.In addition, fraud at the time of exchange of bills and gaming currencycan be detected as well.

Hereinafter, an overview of the whole fraud detecting system in a gamehouse including a plurality of game tables according to a firstembodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of the whole system, thefraud detecting system in a game house including a plurality of gametables 4 includes: a game recording device 11 that records the state ofprogress of a game performed in the game table 4 as a video includingplayers 6 and a dealer 5 through a plurality of camera devices 2; animage analyzing device 12 that performs an image analysis of therecorded video of the state of process of the game; and a carddistributing device 3 that determines and displays a result ofwinning/losing of each game in the game table 4. The card distributingdevice 3 is a so-called electronic shooter that has already been used bypersons skilled in the art and has rules of a game programmed in advanceand has a structure capable of determining winning/losing of a game byreading information of distributed cards C. For example, in a Baccaratgame, winning of the baker, winning of a player, or tie (drawn) isdetermined basically based on the ranks of two to three cards, and adetermination result (a result of winning/losing) is displayed in aresult display lamp 13.

The fraud detecting system further includes a control device 14 thatcompares the rank of actual cards according to a result of the imageanalysis performed by the image analyzing device 12 and a result ofwinning/losing determined by the card distributing device 3 with eachother and detects fraud (mismatch between a sum of ranks of distributedcards and a result of winning/losing) performed in the game table 4. Thecard distributing device 3 has a structure capable of reading ranks (A,2 to 10, J, Q, K) and suits (hearts, spades, or the like) of cards Cthat are manually distributed by the dealer 5, and the control device 14has a structure capable of determining match/mismatch by collatinginformation of a rank and suites acquired by the image analyzing device12 (using artificial intelligence) from a video (captured by using thecamera device 2) of cards distributed in the game table 4 andinformation of cards and suits read by the card distributing device 3with each other. The image analyzing device 12 and the control device 14of the fraud detecting system have a structure integrally including acomputer formed as one body or by a plurality of configurations, aprogram, and a memory.

The image analyzing device 12 and the control device 14 have anartificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable ofacquiring information of ranks of cards also for cards C that aredistributed in the game table 4 and are bent or contaminated by theplayer 6. For a contaminated card C, as illustrated in FIG. 3, there isa situation in which it is difficult to determine clubs or spades. Alsoin such a case, the suite can be determined by an artificialintelligence-utilizing computer or control system, an analysis and adetermination of an image using a deep learning (structure) technology.In addition, also in a case where a card is bent according to a player'ssqueeze of a card, which is frequently performed in a Baccarat game orthe like, by using self-learning of examples of many deformations ofimages or the like, a suit and a rank of a card before deformation canbe recognized according to an artificial intelligence-utilizing computeror control system and a deep learning (structure) technology. Theartificial intelligence-utilizing computer or control system and thedeep learning (structure) technology are known as a person skilled inthe art and can be used, and thus, detailed description thereof will notbe presented.

The control device 14 having an artificial intelligence-utilizing ordeep learning structure can perceive a position (a player, a banker, ora pair) inside a bet area 8 on which each player 6 bets gaming currency120, the type (a value of a different amount is assigned to gamingcurrency 120 for each color) of the bet gaming currency 120 through thecamera device 2 and the image analyzing device 12. Not only there is acase where the gaming currency 120 is vertically arranged to besuperimposed but also there is a case where the gaming currency issuperimposed with deviations as illustrated in FIG. 2A. In such a case,in a case where the camera device 2 is positioned in the direction of anarrow X illustrated in FIG. 2A (or the direction of the gaming currency120 is relatively in a blind area), as illustrated in FIG. 2B, it isassumed that the gaming currency 120 is not visible (enters a blindarea). According to the artificial intelligence-utilizing computer orcontrol system or the deep-learning technology, by using a self-learningfunction or the like, hidden gaming currency 120 due to a blind area orthe like is recognized (there are case where a part of one unit ofgaming currency is hidden or a case where the whole gaming currency ishidden), and the number of quantity and the like can be correctlyperceived.

In this way, since a position (a player, a banker, or a pair) inside thebet area 8 on which the gaming currency 120 is bet and the type (a valueof a different amount is assigned to gaming currency 120 for each color)and the quantity of the bet gaming currency 120 can be perceived, thecontrol device 14 determines whether or not collection (denoted by anarrow L) of the losing gaming currency bet by each player 6 and payment(120W) for winning gaming currency to a player 6W who has won areproperly performed according to a result of winning/losing of a game inaccordance with a result of winning/losing of the game determined by thecard distributing device 3 in each game by analyzing a video of thestate of process of the game through the image analyzing device 12. In acase where a determination result acquired through an analysis using theimage analyzing device 12 is different from a result (for example, aresult of reading using an RFID) of reading using the other means, theintelligent-type control device 14 stores the analysis image and canverify the result later. As a result of the verification, in the case ofan error in the intelligent-type control device 14, by using theanalysis image as sample data of teacher leaning in the deep-learningtechnology, the accuracy of the intelligent-type control device 14 canbe improved.

The control device 14 can analyze and acquire a total amount of thegaming currency 120 in the tray 17 for gaming currency for the dealer 5in the game table 4 by using the image analyzing device 12 and cancompare and calculate whether or not a total amount of the gamingcurrency 120 inside the tray 17 for the gaming currency 120 has beenincreased or decreased according to the amount of collection of thelosing gaming currency 120 bet by each player 6 and the amount of thepayment 120W for winning gaming currency to a player 6W who has wonafter the end of the game and the settlement based on a result ofwinning/losing of the game. A total amount of the gaming currency 120 inthe tray 17 for gaming currency 120 may be constantly acquired usingmeans such as an RFID, and the control device 14 determines whether ornot the increased/decreased amount is correct by analyzing the video ofthe state of progress of the game through the image analyzing device 12.

For this, the artificial intelligence-type or deep-leaning structure isalso used.

In this example, since fraud or a mistake is detected based on a resultof winning/losing of a game, information of the type of bet gamingcurrency 120, the position (a player, a banker, or a pair) inside thebet area 8 on which the gaming currency 120 is bet, and the quantity ofthe gaming currency 120, and an increased/decreased amount of the gamingcurrency 120 in the tray 17 for gaming currency after the end of thecollection of losing gaming currency and the repayment for the wongaming currency 120 without acquiring the movement of the gamingcurrency 120 after the end of the game, that is, whether the bet gamingcurrency 120 has been moved to the player side or the dealer side.

For example, in the case of Baccarat, a result of winning/losing of agame can be determined based on rules of Baccarat by reading ranks ofcards C delivered in that game by the card distributing device 3. Inaddition, a result of winning/losing of a game can be determined also byimaging an area on the game table 4 by using the camera device 2,analyzing the image using the image analyzing device 12, and collating aresult of the analysis with the rules of the game by using the controldevice 14. In such a case, a winning/losing result determining device isconfigured by the camera device 2, the image analyzing device 12, andthe control device 14. The information of a player of each play position7, the type of bet gaming currency 120, the position (a player, abanker, or a pair) inside the bet area 8 on which the gaming currency120 is bet, and the quantity of the gaming currency 120 is acquired byimaging the gaming currency 120 placed on the bet area 8 by using thecamera device 2 and analyzing the image for each play position 7 byusing the image analyzing device 12.

In addition, an increased/decreased amount of gaming currency 120 in thetray 17 for gaming currency before and after the collection of losinggaming currency 120 and the repayment for winning gaming currency 120can be calculated by comparing a total amount of the gaming currency 120disposed inside the tray 17 for gaming currency before the collection oflosing gaming currency 120 and the repayment for won gaming currency 120with a total amount of the gaming currency 120 disposed inside the tray17 for gaming currency after the collection of losing gaming currency120 and the repayment for won gaming currency 120.

The total amount of the gaming currency 120 disposed inside the tray 17for gaming currency before the collection of losing gaming currency 120and the repayment for won gaming currency 120 and the total amount ofthe gaming currency 120 disposed inside the tray 17 for gaming currencyafter the collection of losing gaming currency 120 and the repayment forwon gaming currency 120 can be detected by imaging the tray 17 forgaming currency housing the gaming currency 120 using the camera device2 and analyzing the image using the image analyzing device 12. Inaddition, by embedding an RFID representing the amount inside gamingcurrency 120 and arranging an RFID reader in the tray 17 for gamingcurrency, a total amount of the gaming currency 120 housed in the tray17 for gaming currency may be configured to be detected.

For example, it is assumed that the total amount of the gaming currency120 disposed on the tray 17 for gaming currency before the start of agame is Bb, and the total amount of the gaming currency 120 disposed onthe tray 17 for gaming currency after the game ends, and the collectionof losing gaming currency 120 and the re-payment for winning gamingcurrency 120 is Ba. In addition, in this game, a total amount of all theplay positions 7 of gaming currency 120 that is bet on the player areais bp, a total amount of all the play positions 7 of gaming currency 120that is bet on the banker area is bb, and a total amount of all the playpositions 7 of gaming currency 120 that is bet on a tie area is bt. Forexample, in a case where a result of winning/losing of a game is thewinning of the banker, Ba-Bb=bp-bb+bt needs to be satisfied.Alternatively, the total amount Ba of the gaming currency 120 of thetray 17 for gaming currency after the end of the game needs to be(Bb+bp-bb+bt). Otherwise, it can be determined that there is fraud or amistake in the collection or repayment of the gaming currency.

FIG. 13A is a diagram illustrating details of a tray for gaming currencyaccording to this embodiment, and FIG. 13B is a diagram illustratinganother example of a tray for gaming currency. In the tray 17 for gamingcurrency, a collection tray 171 for gaming currency that is used forcollecting and temporarily storing gaming currency 120L for gaming thatis bet by a losing player 6L and a repayment tray 172 for gamingcurrency 120W for gaming that is used for storing gaming currency 120Lfor gaming to be re-payed are arranged. The image analyzing device 12and the control device 14 acquire the position, the type, and thequantity of gaming currency 120L for gaming that is bet by the losingplayer 6L and calculates an increased amount (an amount of gamingcurrency 120 to be present in the collection tray 171 for gamingcurrency) of gaming currency OL for gaming in the game. In addition, theimage analyzing device 12 and the control device 14 acquires a realtotal amount of gaming currency 120 in the tray 171 for gaming currencyafter the collection and compare a total amount with the real totalamount to determine whether or not there is a difference therebetween.

In addition, for the repayment of gaming currency 120W for gaming for awinning player 6W, by using gaming currency 120 that is present in therepayment tray 172 for gaming currency, a sufficient time can be securedfor the image analyzing device 12 and the control device 14 to acquire areal total amount of gaming currency 120 in the collection tray 171 forgaming currency after collection.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the game table 4 includes a disposal area 41and/or a disposal slot 42 used for disposing cards C used in a game.When a game ends, the cards C used in the game are collected and are putinto the disposal area 41 or the disposal slot 42 on the game table 4.

The game table 4 further includes a marker 43 representingwinning/losing of a game.

FIG. 4A is a plan view illustrating the front side of a marker, and FIG.4B is a plan view illustrating the back side of a marker. In a Baccaratgame, two types of a marker 43 a representing the winning of the playerand a marker 43 b representing the winning of the banker are used, and,when a result of a game comes out, the dealer 5 overturns the marker ofthe winning side out of the player or the banker. In this way,winning/losing of a game is represented on the table to be easilyunderstood. The overturned marker is returned to the original state bythe dealer 5 after the collection and the repayment of gaming currency120. By returning the marker to the original state, it also represents astate in which a next game can be started.

As above, in this embodiment, the control device 14 calculates theamount of bet gaming currency on the game table 4 and a balance ofgaming currency from a result of winning/losing of a game for each gameand verifies an increased amount of the balance of gaming currencyinside the tray 17 for gaming currency after the game. When a differenceis detected in this verification, the control device 14 generates analarm or adds recording of an indication thereof in the recording of avideo captured by the camera device 2. A casino operator can peruse thereason for the difference by checking the video.

The fraud detecting system according to this embodiment adds/subtractsan increased/decreased amount of gaming currency in a game calculatedbased on the positions, the types, and the quantities of gaming currency120 that is bet by all the players 6 in the game and a result ofwinning/losing of the game acquired by the winning/losing resultdetermining device to/from a total amount of gaming currency 120 in thetray 17 for gaming currency before a settlement of each game, compares atotal amount of gaming currency 120 to be present in the tray 17 forgaming currency after the settlement at the time of the end of the gamewith a real total amount of gaming currency 120 in the tray 17 forgaming currency at the time of end of the game that is acquired throughthe image analyzing device 12, and determines whether or not there is adifference between a total amount and a real total amount.

The control device 14 acquires the position, the type, and the quantityof gaming currency that is bet by each player through the imageanalyzing device 12, acquires a real total amount of gaming currencyplaced in the tray for gaming currency when all the collections oflosing gaming currency bet by each player end, compares a total amountof gaming currency 120 to be present in the tray 17 for gaming currency,which is acquired by adding an increased amount in the tray 17 forgaming currency in the game based on the positions, the types, and thequantities of gaming currency bet by losing players to a total amount ofgaming currency placed in the tray for gaming currency before asettlement of each game, with a real total amount of gaming currency 120placed in the tray 17 for gaming currency, and determines whether or notthere is a difference between the total amount and the real totalamount.

In a case where the control device 14 compares a total amount of gamingcurrency 120 to be present in the tray 17 for gaming currency, which isacquired by adding an increased amount in the tray 17 for gamingcurrency in the game based on the positions, the types, and thequantities of gaming currency 120 bet by losing players to a totalamount of gaming currency 120 placed in the tray 17 for gaming currencybefore a settlement of each game, with a real total amount of the gamingcurrency 120 placed in the tray 17 for gaming currency, and determinesthat there is no difference between the total amount and the real totalamount, and compares a total amount to be present in the tray 17 forgaming currency after the settlement at the time of end of the game witha real total amount of gaming currency 120 placed in the tray 17 forgaming currency at the time of end of the game acquired through theimage analyzing device 12, and determines that there is a differencebetween the total amount and the real total amount, the control device14 determines a mistake in the payment and generates a payment errorsignal used for giving a notification of the mistake in the payment.

In the tray 17 for gaming currency, the collection tray 171 for gamingcurrency that collects and temporarily stores gaming currency 120 bet bylosing players is arranged, and the image analyzing device 12 compares atotal amount of gaming currency 120 to be present in the collection tray171 for gaming currency, which is acquired by adding an increased amountof gaming currency 120 in the game that is calculated based on thepositions, the types, and the quantities of the gaming currency 120L forgaming bet by losing players, with a real total amount of the gamingcurrency 120 placed in the tray 171 for gaming currency, and determineswhether or not there is a difference between the total amount and thereal total amount.

When the control device 14 determines a difference in the real totalamount of the gaming currency 120 acquired from the tray 17 for gamingcurrency for the dealer 5 of the game table 4 not corresponding to theincreased/decreased amount of the gaming currency calculated based onthe amount of gaming currency bet by all the players and a result ofwinning/losing of the game, the game recording device 11 assigns anindex or time to the acquired video or can reproduced with a collectionscene or a payment scene of the gaming currency 120 specified such thatthe recording of the game in which the difference occurs can be analyzedby the game recording device 11.

In this way, the control device 14 acquires a total amount of gamingcurrency (chips) placed in the tray 17 for gaming currency after asettlement at the time of end of a game through the image analyzingdevice 12. In this case, the determination of “after the settlement” iswhen one of “1) to 4)” occurs: 1) when repayment for won gaming currency120 (won chips) ends; 2) when cards C used in the game are collected andare disposed in the disposal area or the disposal slot of the table; 3)when a predetermined button accompanying the winning/losing resultdetermining device is pressed; 4) when the marker 43 representingwinning/losing is returned to the original state.

In the management system of the table game, the management controldevice images the positions, the types, and the quantities of gamingcurrency that is placed by game participants in each game when any oneof 1) to 3) is detected: 1) when the card distributing device detectsthat a first card is drawn; 2) before and after drawing; 3) after themanagement control device recognizes a dealer's bet end sign.

In addition, the control device 14 has an artificialintelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable of acquiringthe position (a position for betting on the player, the banker, or thefair) and the amount (the types and quantities) of bet gaming currencyat each player position 7 of the game table 4, comparing awinning/losing history of each player 6 and the amount (won amount) ofacquired gaming currency that can be acquired based on the result ofwinning/losing of each game with statistical data of many (big data)games in the past, and extracting an abnormal situation (set in thecasino).

Typically, the control device 14 is included which has an artificialintelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable of extractingan occurrence of a won amount of a certain amount (one million dollars)or more and an abnormal situation in which, in a play position 7 of aspecific game table 4, a state in which the amount of bet gamingcurrency is small at the time of losing a game, and the amount of betgaming currency is large at the time of winning a game is continued forseveral games and is determined as an abnormal situation based on acomparison with statistical data (big data or the like) of games in thepast.

In addition, the control device 14 (integrated with the image analyzingdevice 12) of the fraud detecting system has a structure capable ofextracting an abnormal situation or specifying an individual player 6 atthe play position 7 at which winning of a predetermined amount of moreis acquired. In such specifying of a player 6, the image of each face isspecified with a profit and an identify number (an ID or the like)assigned thereto in the image analyzing device 12. Then, the controldevice 14 has a warning function for giving a notification of thepresence of a specific player in another game table when the specifiedplayer 6 leaves a seat and arrives at the another game table. Morespecifically, a notice is given to a pit manager managing each gametable 4 or each table staff (or a dealer), wherein further prevention ofan abnormal phenomenon is achieved.

The control device 14 includes a database recording a history ofexchange of bills K and gaming currency 120, refers to the database atthe interval of a predetermined time or in units of one day anddetermines through a comparison whether or not the amount of gamingcurrency 120 acquired in the tray 17 for gaming currency for the dealer5 of the game table 4 has been increased or decreased according to apayed amount of gaming currency 120 corresponding to exchanged bills Kor a total amount of payment of bills K corresponding to exchangedgaming currency 120.

In addition, a winning/losing history of each play position 7 and theamount (won amount) of acquired gaming currency may be monitored withoutspecifying an individual player 6.

In such a case, while, in a case where each player 6 leaves the seat,the player 6 cannot be tracked, an abnormal situation such as a casewhere, a state in which the amount of bet gaming currency is small atthe time of losing a game at a specific play position 7 of one gametable 4, and the amount of bet gaming currency at the time of winning agame is large is continued for several games or the like can bedetected. Then, in a case where such a play position 7 is detected,there is a suspicion that there is fraud or a mistake at the playposition 7. Then, by verifying a video in which the play position 7 isimaged, a fraud or a mistake can be found.

More specifically, the camera device 2 is mounted to image at leastgaming currency 120 placed in the bet area 8 of the game table 4. Theimage analyzing device 12 analyzes images captured by the camera device2 and detects a position among the positions of the player, the banker,and the tie of the bet area 8 at which gaming currency is placed foreach user position 7 and the amount of the placed gaming currency. Inaddition, the card distributing device 3 also functions as awinning/losing result determining device and determines a result ofwinning/losing of a game. The control device 14, based on the position(the player, the banker, or the tie) inside the bet area 8 at which thegaming currency 120 is placed and the result of winning/losing of thegame, records monitors) a winning/losing history for each play position7 and the amount (an acquired amount of the gaming currency) of thegaming currency that has been acquired. Here, any one of thewinning/losing history and the acquired amount of the gaming currencymay be recorded. In a case where the winning/losing history/or theacquired amount of the gaming currency is in an abnormal situation (setin the casino) when compared with the statistical data of many (bigdata) games in the past, the control device 14 specifies this playerposition 7 as a play position at which a suspicion of fraud is present.

In a case where there is a suspicion of fraud for a specific playerposition 7, the fraud detecting system may be configured to generate analarm (light, a sound, or a vibration) such that at least the dealergets near at the time point. In this way, a game thereafter is stoppedat least at the place or the like, and the continuation of fraud can beblocked. In addition, information representing a suspicion of fraud maybe added to a video that is captured and recorded by the camera device2. Accordingly, by checking the video, the cause of the suspicion offraud can be investigated.

The fraud detecting system in a game house including a game tableaccording to this embodiment further has a function of performing aninspection at the time of exchange of bills and gaming currency that isfrequently performed in the game table 4. In a game house such as acasino, before a game, a player 6 exchanges bills (cash or the like) andgaming currency at a predetermined gaming currency clearing house.However, when all the gaming currency is used, the player 6 can continuethe game by exchanging cash (bills) with gaming currency 120 on the gametable (a Baccarat table or the like) without leaving the seat from thegame table 4. However, here, there is a chance for fraud between thedealer 5 and the player. The exchange of cash (bills) for gamingcurrency 120 on a game table (for example, a Baccarat table or the like)needs to be performed when a game does not advance. In order todetermine winning/losing of a game, the card distributing device 3 candetect the start of dealing of cards and the end of dealing (a timeperiod for determining winning/losing). For this reason, the carddistributing device 3 detects a situation other than the distribution(dealing) of cards, and the control device 14 detects exchange of billsand gaming currency 120 on the game table 4 in a situation other thanthe dealing of cards (illustrated in FIG. 5).

Being in the middle of the dealing (or any other situation) of cards canbe detected based on information acquired from the operation of the carddistributing device 3 or the dealer 5.

The control device 14 can recognize the quantity and the amount of billsby performing an image analysis of the surfaces of the bills K. Inaddition, in the game table 4, it is determined whether or not bills Kto be exchanged for gaming currency 120 are genuine by detecting genuinemarks G of the bills by emitting black light. As illustrated in FIG. 5,the control device 14 has an artificial intelligence-utilizing ordeep-learning structure verifying the genuine marks G through an imageanalysis, recognizing a total amount of genuine bills, being capable ofrecognizing a total amount of gaming currency even in a state in which aplurality of gaming currency come out onto the game table as an exchangetarget is hidden due to a blind area of the camera device 2, comparing atotal amount of the bills K come out onto the game table 4 from a playerwith a total amount of the gaming currency 120 come out from the dealer5, and being capable of determining whether or not both the amountsmatch each other.

The control device 14 has an artificial intelligence-utilizing ordeep-leaning structure capable of determining whether or not a totalamount of gaming currency 120 placed in the tray 17 for gaming currencyfor the dealer 5 of the game table 4 has been increased/decreasedaccording to a paid amount of gaming currency corresponding to theexchanged bills after a settlement through exchange of the bills and thegaming currency. A case may be considered as well in which the totalamount of the gaming currency 120 placed in the tray 17 for gamingcurrency for the dealer 5 is constantly acquired in advance by usingRFIDs of gaming currency 120 or the like. In addition, the total amountof the gaming currency 120 housed in the tray 17 for gaming currency canbe detected by imaging the tray 17 for gaming currency housing thegaming currency 120 by using the camera device 2 and analyzing the imageusing the image analyzing device 12.

In addition, the control device 14 detects whether an increase/decreasein the amount of the gaming currency 120 present inside the tray 17 forgaming currency before and after the exchange of bills and the gamingcurrency matches an exchange amount of the gaming currency as a resultof an image analysis on the game table 4. The amount of paid bills maybe input by the dealer 5 to the control device 14 through key input orthe like or may be specified by imaging an area disposed on the gametable 4 in which bills are paid by using the camera device 2 andanalyzing the image using the image analyzing device 12.

As described above, the control device 14 determines whether or not adecreased amount of the gaming currency 120 from the tray 17 for gamingcurrency according to the exchange of bills and the gaming currencymatches the amount paid to the dealer 5 from players 6. In addition, thecontrol device 14 is an intelligence-type control device capable ofdetermining match/mismatch of an input amount (commonly, according tokey input or the like) of bills input by the dealer 5 and a calculatedamount of bills that is a result of an image analysis performed by theimage analyzing device 12 after the settlement through the exchange ofthe bills and the gaming currency through a comparison and calculationand may have an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learningstructure.

Furthermore, the control device 14 has an artificialintelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable of determiningmatch/mismatch of a total amount of bills according to the input of adealer in the game table 4 for which the dealer is responsible and atotal amount of bills according to a result of an image analysis usingthe image analyzing device 12 through a comparison and calculation.

The control device 14 determines whether or not the amount of gamingcurrency 120 perceived in the tray 17 for gaming currency for the dealer5 of the game table 4 has increased/decreased according to a paid amountof gaming currency 120 corresponding to exchanged bills after theexchange of the bills and the gaming currency 120 or a paid amount ofbills corresponding to the exchanged gaming currency 120 through acomparison.

The control device 14 is a control device having an artificialintelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable of acquiringinformation of the types and the quantities of the gaming currency 120even in a state in which a part of or the whole one unit of gamingcurrency is hidden when the types and the quantities of the gamingcurrency 120 are determined.

A management system according to a second embodiment relates to amanagement system of table games in a game house.

In a game house such as a casino, there are various attempts preventingdealer's mistakes in handling gaming currency (gaming currency). A gamehouse includes monitoring cameras used for monitoring dealer's mistakesin handling gaming currency, and such mistakes are prevented using adetermination of mistakes and fraud according to collection andrepayment of gaming currency that are different from a result ofwinning/losing based on images acquired using the monitoring cameras andthe like.

Meanwhile, in order to acquire the quantity and a total amount of gamingcurrency, it has been proposed to acquire the amount of the gamingcurrency by attaching an IC tag to each gaming currency.

In a card game monitoring system disclosed in Int'l App. No.PCT/JP2015/000171, it is determined whether or not gaming currency placeon a game table is collected or re-payed according to a result ofwinning/losing by performing an image analysis of movement of the gamingcurrency, and monitoring of dealer's mistakes in handling the gamingcurrency is performed.

In game houses such as casinos, while gaming currency is piled to have ahigh volume and is placed on a game table, there is a problem in that atotal amount cannot be correctly read by a reading device for IC tagsdisposed under the game table, and, when the sensitivity of the readingdevice is increased, gaming currency or gaming placed at a differentposition (winning/losing depends on the position) is added, and there isa problem in that a total amount of gaming currency at each positioncannot be perceived. In addition, conventionally, as illustrated in FIG.7, the pattern of gaming currency (gaming currency) 9 is complicated,and, when a plurality of gaming currency are piled, there is a problemin that the quantity of such a pile cannot be accurately acquired usinga camera.

Furthermore, fraud on a game table has been advanced, and there is a newproblem in that fraud using an advanced betting method or the like thatcannot be found in simple detection of a large winning amount on a gametable or the like cannot be found by using a camera.

In addition, it is necessary for a dealer to collect or re-paid gamingcurrency placed on a game table according to a result of winning/losing.In a case this is to be determined by performing an image analysis ofthe gaming currency, since the pattern of the gaming currency (gamingcurrency) is complicated, there is a problem in that it cannot bedetermined whether or not a dealer correctly performs re-payment whengaming currency corresponding to the bet gaming currency is re-payed byusing a currently-existing practical image analyzing technology, and theprevention of mistakes is not sufficient.

In order to solve the various problems described above, a managementsystem of table games according to this embodiment includes: a carddistributing device that determines and displays a result ofwinning/losing of each game in a game table; a measurement device thatmeasures the types and the quantities of gaming currency place on thegame table by using a camera; and a management control device thatspecifies and stores the position, the types, and the quantity of gamingcurrency placed on the game table by a game participant by using aresult of the measurement performed by the measurement device in eachgame. The gaming currency has a configuration in which a plurality ofplastic layers of different colors are stacked, at least a coloringlayer is included in the middle, and a stripe pattern in a stackingdirection is formed on a side face by employing a multi-layer structurein which white layers or thin-color layers are stacked on both sides ofthe coloring layer disposed in the middle, and the type of the gamingcurrency can be specified by using the coloring layer. The managementcontrol device has calculation functions of determining a winner and aloser among participants in each game by using a result ofwinning/losing acquired from the card distributing device and a resultof the measurement of the position, the types, and the quantities of thegaming currency placed by each game participant and calculating thebalance of the casino side in the game table for each game.

In addition, in the management system, the management control device hasa structure including a function of determining the quantity of thegaming currency by measuring the number of coloring layers, the whitelayers, or the thin-color layers of the gaming currency placed by eachgame participant.

In order to solve the various problems, gaming currency according tothis embodiment has a configuration in which a plurality of plasticlayers of different colors are stacked, at least a coloring layer isincluded in the middle, and a stripe pattern in a stacking direction isformed on a side face by stacking white layers or thin-color layers onboth sides of the coloring layer, and the type of the gaming currencycan be specified by using the coloring layer.

In addition, in the gaming currency, on the surface of the white layeror the thin-color layer, a print representing the type of the gamingcurrency is formed, transparent layers are disposed in outermost layers,and each interlayer is thermos-compressed to form a structure of atleast five layers.

In addition, in the gaming currency, marks using UV ink or ink (carbonblack ink) absorbing infrared rays are arranged on the surfaces of thewhite-color layers or the thin-color layers, or embossing processing isperformed for the transparent layer of the outermost layer, or Rprocessing is performed for the ends of the transparent layers of theoutermost layers, or the coloring layer is formed by a plurality oflayers, and RFIDs may be built in the coloring layers.

In order to solve the various problems described above, an inspectiondevice inspecting gaming currency according to this embodiment includes:a passage including an inlet and an output through which the gamingcurrency can pass in a radial direction; a gaming currency typedetermining device that determines a color of the stripe in the stakingdirection of the side face by imaging the side face of the gamingcurrency passing through the passage; a mark reading device that reads amark, which is formed using the UV ink or the ink (carbon black ink)absorbing infrared rays, arranged on the surface of the passing gamingcurrency; a print inspecting device that reads a print representing thetype arranged on the surface of the gaming currency in a verticaldirection with respect to the passage; and a control device of the wholedevice. The control device is configured to inspect whether or not thetype of the gaming currency determined by the gaming currency typedetermining device matches a content of the print representing the typeacquired by the print inspecting device.

According to the system of this embodiment, even in a case where manygaming currencies (gaming currency) are piled up, the quantity of thegaming currencies can be determined, and a total amount of relativelyoverlapping gaming currency can be acquired based on the position andthe color.

Hereinafter, a management system of table games in a game houseincluding a game table according to an embodiment of the presentinvention will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram that illustrates anoverview of the whole system. The management system of table games in agame house including a plurality of game tables 4 includes: ameasurement device 19 including an image analyzing device 18 thatrecords a state of process of a game played in the game table 4 as avideo including game participants 6 and a dealer 5 through a pluralityof camera devices 2 and performs an image analysis of the recorded videoof the state of process of the game; and a card distributing device 3that determines and displays a result of winning/losing of each game inthe game table 4. The card distributing device 3 is a so-calledelectronic shooter that has already been used by persons skilled in theart and has rules of a game programmed in advance and has a structurecapable of determining winning/losing of a game by reading informationof distributed cards C. For example, in a Baccarat game, winning of thebaker, winning of a player, or tie (drawn) is determined basically basedon the ranks of two to three cards, and a determination result (a resultof winning/losing) is displayed in a result display lamp 13.

The management control device 14 reads information (ranks and suits) ofcards C acquired from the card distributing device 3 and determines aresult of winning/losing of each game and determines a winner 6W and aloser 6L among the participants 6 in each game by using a result ofmeasurement of the position, the types, and the quantities of gamingcurrency 120 placed by the game participants 6.

In addition, the management control device 14 has a calculation functionof calculating a balance (an amount acquired by subtracting a totalamount of gaming currency 120 that is re-paid to a winner 6W among theparticipants 6 from a total amount of gaming currency 120 bet by theloser 6L) of the casino side in the game table 1 for each game.

The image analyzing device 18, the measurement device 19, and themanagement control device 14 of this detection system have a structureintegrally including a computer formed as one body or by a plurality ofconfigurations, a program, and a memory.

Next, details of gaming currency used in this detection system will bedescribed. FIG. 8 is a front cross-sectional view of gaming currency 120used in this detection system. The gaming currency 120 has a multi-layerstructure in which a plurality of plastic layers having different colorsare stacked, a coloring layer 121 is included at least in the middle,and white layers 122 or thin-color layers (while not illustrated in thedrawing, the layers may be layers of a color that is thinner than thatof the coloring layer 121) are stacked on both sides of the coloringlayer 121 of the middle.

In this way, by employing a multi-layer structure in which the coloringlayer 121 is included, and white layers 122 or thin-color layers (whilenot illustrated in the drawing, the layers may be layers of a color thatis thinner than that of the coloring layer 121) are stacked on bothsides of the coloring layer 121 of this middle, as illustrated in FIG.9A, a stripe pattern is formed on the side face in the stackingdirection, and the type of the gaming currency 120 can be specified bychanging the color (red, green, yellow, blue, or the like) of thecoloring layer 121 for each type (10 points, 20 points, 100 points, 1000points, and the like) of the gaming currency 120.

The gaming currency 120 is configured as a structure body including thecoloring layer 121 and the white layer 122 or the thin-color layer atleast in the outer appearance to form a stripe pattern in the axialdirection on the side face and has a configuration enabling the type ofthe gaming currency 120 to be specified using the coloring layer 121.While FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate different examples, in the examples,the coloring layer 121 and the white layer 122 or the thin-color layerare formed through injection molding, and so-called two-color molding isused in which, first, the coloring layer 121 is molded inside a die formolding (not illustrated in the drawing), and thereafter, the whitelayer 122 or the thin-color layer is molded.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 9B, in the gaming currency 120,prints 123(100 points or the like) representing the type of the gamingcurrency 120 are formed on the surfaces (the upper face and the lowerface) of the white layer 122. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the transparentlayers 124 are disposed in the outermost layers, and each interlayer isthermos-compressed, and a structure of at least five layers is formed.Such gaming currency 120 is formed by using a plastic material having athin long shape, and layers (the coloring layer 121, the white layer122, and the transparent layer 124) are thermo-compressed to form aclosely adhering state (a structure of five layers or the like) in thestate of a long length, and thereafter, holes having a circular shape, arectangular shape, or the like are formed therein through press or thelike.

When a hole is formed through the press, die of mold for punching, andthe size of punching are designed, and R processing (round angle) isperformed for the ends of the transparent layer 124 of the outermostlayer.

That is, in order to manufacture the gaming currency 120, first, aplate-shaped coloring layer 121 formed using plastic and a plate shapedwhite layer 122 or a thin-color layer formed using plastic are stacked,and a stacked structure body configured by a plurality of plastic layersis formed. Then, drawing patterns are printed on the upper face and thelower face of this stacked structure body, and transparent layers 124are formed thereon. Then, the layers of the stacked structure body andthe transparent layers 124 are heated and pressed to be heated andwelded, whereby a gaming currency original plate is generated. Then,punching processing is performed for the gaming currency original plateacquired in this way, whereby a plurality of gaming currencies 120having a predetermined shape are acquired. When this punching processingis performed, R processing is performed for upper and lower angles ofthe gaming currency 120 using a mold.

In addition, in the gaming currency 120, face codes using the UV ink orink (carbon black ink) absorbing an infrared rays are arranged on thesurface of the white layer 122 (see FIG. 9B). This face codes representthe authenticity of the gaming currency 120, and, when ultraviolet rays(or infrared rays) are emitted thereto, a mark is visible to the eyes,and a combination of the form and the number of the marks represents theauthenticity. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a state in which thegaming currency 120 is stacked up, and a face code M is acquired bycombining a long code L and a short code S. In the outermost layers,while transparent layers (print layers) 124 are thermally compressed orformed as coating layers to cover the print 123 and the face code,embossing processing is performed for these transparent layers 124, andthe close adherence between the gaming currencies 120 is prevented. Inaddition, in this embodiment, while an example has been described inwhich face codes are printed on the surfaces of the white layers 122,instead of the face codes or together with the face codes, one or bothof a security mark and an optically variable device (OVD) may beprinted.

The R processing (R) is performed for the ends of the transparent layers(print layer) 124 of the outermost layer for which the print 123 (100points or the like), and in the punching process of the gaming currency120, the surfaces of the white layers 122 are prevented from beingdeformed to appear on the side face. In addition, it is prevented that asharp end remains in the gaming currency 120 and damages the hands orthe other gaming currency 120.

The coloring layer 121, as illustrated in FIG. 8, may be formed by aplurality of colored layers (three layers in the case illustrated inFIG. 8). Since the plurality of colored layers (three layers in the caseillustrated in FIG. 8) are thermos-compressed, a state in which thethree-layer structure can be visually observed, as illustrated in FIG.8, is not formed. However, three layers are illustrated in FIG. 8 fordescription. In addition, in a middle layer among the three layers ofthe coloring layer 121, a partly hollowed portion B is arranged, and anRFID 125 is built therein.

In addition, without arranging the hollowed portion B in the coloringlayer 121, the RFID 125 may be built in the gaming currency 120 byarranging the RFID 125 between the coloring layer 121 having a flatsurface and the white layer 122 having a flat surface and performingthermos-compressing of the coloring layer 121 and the white layer 122 asit is. By configuring at least one of the coloring layer 121 and thewhite layer 122 using a material such as plastic that can be thermallydeformed, out of the coloring layer 121 and the white layer 122 havingthe RFID 125 interposed therebetween through thermal compression, aplastic layer is thermally deformed, and accordingly, the RFID 125 istightly fixed between such layers without arranging the hollowed portionB.

FIG. 12 is a perspective explanatory photographic diagram thatillustrates a state in which gaming currency of different types arepiled up. The management control device 14 images gaming currency 120placed on the game table 1 by the game participant 6 by using the cameradevice 2 and measures each area 8 (whether the bet is on the banker, theplayer, the pair, or the tie) in which the gaming currency 120 is placedby using the measurement device 19 including the image analyzing device18, and the measurement device 19 (by using information acquired by theimage analyzing device 18) analyzes and measures the number and thecolors of coloring layers 121 (or the thin-color layers) or white layers122 of the gaming currency 120 that is stacked in each area anddetermines the types and the quantities of the gaming currency 120. Themanagement control device 14 performs control of the camera device 2such that imaging using the camera device 2 is performed when the firstcard is drawn from the card distributing device, before and after thedrawing, or after a dealer's sign representing the end of betting.

The management control device 14 may be a control device having anartificial intelligence-utilizing or deep learning structure. Themanagement control device 14 can perceive the position 8 (a positionbetting on a player, a banker, or a pair), the types (a value of adifferent amount is assigned to the gaming currency 120 for each color),and the quantities of the gaming currency 120 that is bet by eachparticipant 6 through the camera device 2 and the image analyzing device18. The artificial intelligence-utilizing computer or control system canperceive the position 8 (a position betting on a player, a banker, or apair), the types (a value of a different amount is assigned to thegaming currency for each color), and the quantities of the gamingcurrency 120 by using a self-learning function or the like in thedeep-learning (structure) technology, and thus, according to a result ofwinning/losing of a game determined by the card distributing device 3 ineach game, determines whether or not the collection (denoted using anarrow L) of gaming currency 120 bet by a losing participant 6L and there-payment (payment (120W)) for winning gaming currency 120 for thewinning game participant 6W are appropriately performed according to aresult of winning/failure of the game in each game by analyzing a videoof the state of progress of the game by using the management controldevice 14 through the image analyzing device 18.

In such a case, as illustrated in FIG. 11 (compared to conventionalgaming currency illustrated in FIG. 7), a stacked multi-layer structureis formed, and a stripe pattern is formed on the side face in thestacking direction, and accordingly, the measurement device 19 includingthe image analyzing device 18 can accurately perform the measurement ofthe types and the quantities of gaming currency in an easy manner. Inaddition, by using an artificial intelligence-utilizing computer orcontrol system and a deep-learning (structure) technology, the analysisand the determination of the image can be performed more accurately. Theartificial intelligence-utilizing computer or control system and thedeep-learning (structure) technology are known to persons skilled in theart and can be used, and thus, detailed description thereof will beabbreviated.

The management control device 14 can analyze and perceive a total amountof gaming currency 120 in the tray 17 for gaming currency for the dealer5 of the game table 4 by using the image analyzing device 18 and candetermine through a comparison and calculation whether or not a totalamount of the gaming currency 120 placed inside the tray 17 for gamingcurrency has been increased/decreased according to the collection of thelosing gaming currency 120 bet by each game participant 6 and the amountof the payment 120W for winning gaming currency to the winning gameparticipant 6W after the game ends and is settled based on the result ofwinning/losing of the game. The total amount of the gaming currency 120in the tray 17 for gaming currency may be constantly acquired by usingmeans such as RFIDs, and it is determined whether or not theincreased/decreased amount is correct by the management control device14 by analyzing a video of the state of progress of the game through theimage analyzing device 18. For these, an artificialintelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure may be utilized.

In addition, the management control device 14 may have an artificialintelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable of acquiringthe position (a position for betting on the player, the banker, or thefair) and the amount (the types and quantities) of bet gaming currencyat each player position 7 of the game table 4, comparing awinning/losing history of each player 6 and the amount (won amount) ofacquired gaming currency that can be acquired based on the result ofwinning/losing of each game with statistical data of many (big data)games in the past, and extracting an abnormal situation (set in thecasino). Typically, the management control device 14 is included whichhas an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structurecapable of extracting an occurrence of a won amount of a certain amount(one million dollars) or more and an abnormal situation in which, in aplay position 7 of a specific game table 4, a state in which the amountof bet gaming currency is small at the time of losing a game, and theamount of bet gaming currency is large at the time of winning a game iscontinued for several games and is determined as an abnormal situationbased on a comparison with statistical data (big data or the like) ofgames in the past.

The total amount of the gaming currency 120 in the tray 17 for gamingcurrency for the dealer 5 of the game table 4 is settled for the gamingcurrency 120 bet by each participant 6 after each game, and themanagement control device 14 has a structure capable of determiningthrough a comparison and calculation whether or not an increase/decreasein the gaming currency that corresponds to a settlement is correct afterthe settlement.

In the tray 17 for gaming currency used for storing the gaming currency120 for the dealer 5 illustrated in FIG. 6, the types and the quantitiesof the gaming currency 120 can be determined by analyzing and measuringthe numbers and the colors of the coloring layers 121 or the whitelayers 122 of the gaming currency 120 stacked in the horizontaldirection by using the measurement device 19 (by using the informationacquired by the image analyzing device 18). The total amount of thegaming currency 120 for the tray 17 for storing gaming currency isconstantly (or at predetermined time intervals) acquired in this way. Asthe management control device 14 has a calculation function ofcalculating a settlement amount (calculation of a balance of the casinoside in the game table 4 (an amount acquired by subtracting a totalamount of the gaming currency 120 re-paid to the winner 6W among theparticipants 6 from a total amount of the gaming currency 120 bet by theloser 6L) of each game for each game (see description presented above),the total amount of the gaming currency 120 of the tray 17 for gamingcurrency is constantly (or at intervals of a predetermined time) isverified. That is, it is verified whether or not an increase/decrease inthe gaming currency matches a result of an image analysis performed bythe image analyzing device 18 and the settlement amount of each gameperformed by the dealer 5.

FIG. 13A is a diagram that illustrates details of a tray for gamingcurrency according to this embodiment, and FIG. 13B is a diagram thatillustrates another example of the gaming currency. In the tray 17 forgaming currency, a collection tray 171 for gaming currency that is usedfor collecting and temporarily storing gaming currency 120L for gamingthat is bet by a losing player 6L and a repayment tray 172 for gamingcurrency 120W for gaming that is used for storing gaming currency 120Lfor gaming to be re-payed are arranged. The image analyzing device 12and the control device 14 acquire the position, the type, and thequantity of gaming currency 120L for gaming that is bet by the losingplayer 6L and calculates an increased amount (an amount of gamingcurrency 120L for gaming to be present in the collection tray 171 forgaming currency 120) of gaming currency 120L for gaming in the game. Inaddition, the image analyzing device 12 and the control device 14acquire a real total amount of the gaming currency 120 in the tray 171for gaming currency after the collection and determine whether or notthere is a difference between the total amount and the real total amountthrough a comparison.

Here, the tray 17 for gaming currency that is illustrated above has atwo-stage structure formed by an upper stage tray 17 a for gamingcurrency and a lower stage tray 17 b for gaming currency. FIGS. 14A and14B are diagrams that illustrate a relation between the tray 17 forgaming currency having a two-stage structure and a camera device 2, FIG.14A illustrates a state in which two stages overlap each other, and FIG.14B illustrates a state in which two stages are shifted from each other.In the lower stage of the upper stage tray 17 a for gaming currency, thelower stage tray 17 b for gaming currency is present, and the upperstage tray 17 a for gaming currency and the lower stage tray 17 b forgaming currency are connected through a hinge 17 c. In a case wheregaming currency 120 placed in the upper stage tray 17 a for gamingcurrency 120 is insufficient, gaming currency 120 is supplemented fromthe lower stage tray 17 b for gaming currency to the upper stage tray 17a for gaming currency. On the other hand, in a case where gamingcurrency 120 placed in the upper stage tray 17 a for gaming currency isexcessive, the gaming currency is moved to the lower stage tray 17 b forgaming currency.

In order to take in the gaming currency 120 from the lower stage tray 17b for gaming currency, the upper stage tray 17 a for gaming currency ismoved using the hinge 17 c to be in a state illustrated in FIG. 14B. Inthe state illustrated in FIG. 14A, the upper stage tray 17 a for gamingcurrency is imaged by the camera device 2, and, in the state illustratedin FIG. 14B, the lower stage tray 17 b for gaming currency can be imagedusing the camera device 2. In the state illustrated in FIG. 14B, theupper stage tray 17 a for gaming currency and the lower stage tray 17 bfor gaming currency can be imaged by the camera device 2 csimultaneously and in a state in which the trays can be identified fromeach other. In addition, in the state illustrated in FIG. 14B, the upperstage tray 17 a for gaming currency and the lower stage tray 17 b forgaming currency may be separately imaged. The camera devices 2 and 2 cmay respectively include a visible light camera corresponding to printedink of a side ID 126 and an infrared-ray camera or may be camerasswitchable between a plurality of functions of a visible-light cameracorresponding to printed ink and an infrared-ray camera.

Next, an inspection device 200 inspecting the gaming currency 120according to an embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to FIG. 15. The inspection device 200 includes a passage203 that includes an inlet 201 through which gaming currency 120 canpass in the radial direction (the direction of an arrow Y) and an outlet202. The passage 203 inclines, and the gaming currency 120 passes in thedirection of the arrow Y). In the passage 203, a gaming currency typedetermining device 204 that images the side face of the gaming currency120 and determines the color of a stripe pattern of the side face in thestacking direction; a mark reading device 205 that reads a face code asa face code using UV ink or ink (carbon black ink) absorbing infraredrays arranged on the surface of the passing gaming currency 120; a printinspecting device 206 that reads the print 123 representing the typearranged on the surface of gaming currency in the vertical directionwith respect to the passage 203; and a control device 207 for the wholedevice. The control device 207 is configured to inspect whether or notthe type of the gaming currency determined by the gaming currency typedetermining device 204 matches a content of the print representing thetype acquired from the print inspecting device 206.

By using this inspection device 200, it can be inspected whether or notthe print 123 of the manufactured gaming currency 120 matches the typeof the gaming currency according to the color of the stripe pattern ofthe gaming currency 120 and is correctly printed.

As above, the gaming currency 120 according to this embodiment has astacked structure, in which the coloring layer 121 and the white layer122 or thin-color layers having the coloring layer 121 interposedtherebetween are stacked, formed by a plurality of plastic layers andthus, has a side face on which a stride pattern is formed in thestacking direction. The gaming currency 120 has a configuration enablingthe type of the gaming currency 120 to be specified using the coloringlayer 121 appearing on the side face. In addition, prints are performedfor the upper face and the lower face of the gaming currency 120. Morespecifically, prints are performed for the surface of the white layer122 of the thin-color layer, and the transparent layer 124 is includedon the upper face thereof. The coloring layer 121 and the white layer122 or the thin-color layer and the print layer 124 arethermos-compressed together to form a layered structure.

The white layers 122 or the thin-color layers having the coloring layer121 interposed therebetween may be configured to have different depthsin the vertical direction from each other.

In addition, in this embodiment, the R processing is performed for theouter edges of the upper face and the lower face of the gaming currency120. Accordingly, it can be prevented that a player's hand handling thegaming currency 120 hurts, or the gaming currency 120 damages the othergaming currency 120.

In addition, in this embodiment, the RFID 125 is tightly fixed betweenplastic layers each forming one of the coloring layer 121 and the whitelayer 122 or the thin-color layer.

In addition, in this embodiment, on the upper face and/or the lower faceof the gaming currency 120, face codes using UV emission ink, infraredabsorption ink such as ink (carbon black ink) absorbing infrared raysare arranged. In addition, as a modified example of this embodiment, oneor both of a security mark and an optical variable device (OVD) may beprinted on the surfaces of the gaming currency 120 instead of the facecodes or together with the face codes.

In addition, the gaming currency 120 according to this embodiment has astructure in which the side ID 126 is attached to the side face, theRFID 125 is built, and face codes using UV emission ink or infraredabsorption ink are arranged on the upper face or the lower face (theprint layer 124). Then, the information of a side ID 126 and theinformation of an RFID 125 are associated with each other, theinformation of a side ID 126 and information of a face code areassociated with each other, or the information of a side ID 126,information of an RFID 125, and the information of a face code areassociated with each other.

In addition, the inspection device 200 according to this embodimentincludes: the measurement device 19 of the type of gaming currency 120that images the side face of the gaming currency 120 and determines thecolor of the stripe pattern of the side face in the stacking direction;and the mark reading device 205 that reads the print of the gamingcurrency. In this way, a relation between the type of gaming currencyand the content of a print can be inspected.

The management control device 14 according to this embodiment performsimaging for determining the position, the types, and the quantities ofgaming currency placed by a game participant in each game when the firstcard is drawn from the card distributing device 3, before and afterdrawing, or after a dealer's sign representing the end of betting.

In addition, the gaming currency 120 according to this embodiment ismanufactured as below. First, a stacked structure body including aplurality of plastic layers is formed by heating and pressing thecoloring layer 121 and the white layers 122 or the thin-film layers.Then, a drawing pattern is printed at least on the upper face or thelower face of the stacked structure body, whereby a gaming currencyoriginal plate is generated. Then, punching processing is performed forthe gaming currency original plate by using a mold, whereby a pluralityof gaming currencies having a predetermined shape are acquired. Here, atthe time of punching processing, R processing is performed for the outeredges of the upper and lower faces of the gaming currency 120 by using amold.

In addition, in a case where gaming currency 120 having side IDs is tobe manufactured, side IDs are printed on the side faces of the whitelayers 122 or the thin-color layers through inkjet printing.Furthermore, in a case where gaming currency 120 including an RFID is tobe manufactured, an RFID is interposed between the layers of the stackedstructure body, and the layers having the RFID interposed therebetweenare heated and welded when the layers are thermos-compressed, wherebythe periphery of the RFID is tightly fixed by the plastic layers.

In addition, the management system of table games according to thisembodiment includes: the card distributing device 13 that determines anddisplays a result of winning/losing of each game in the game table 4;the camera device 2 that images gaming currency 120 placed on the gametable 4; and the management control device 14 that specifies and storesthe position, the types, and the quantities of gaming currency placed bythe game participant 6 on the game table 4 by using a result of theimaging performed by the camera device 2. The gaming currency 120 is astacked structure body in which the coloring layer 121 and the whitelayers 122 or the thin-color layers are stacked and has a stripe patternon the side face in the stacking direction. The management controldevice 14 has a calculation function calculating a balance of the casinoside in the game table 4 for each game based on a result ofwinning/losing acquired from the card distributing device 13 and theposition, the types, and the quantities of the gaming currency 120specified using the imaging result of the camera device 2.

The management control device 14 has a function of measuring the numberof the coloring layers 121 or the white layers 122 or the thin-colorlayers of gaming currency 120 placed by each game participant 6,determines the types and the amounts of the gaming currency by using thecolors of the coloring layer 121, and determining the quantities of thegaming currency 120.

A system according to this embodiment relates to a management system ofgaming currency preventing the use of fake gaming currency in a gamehouse in a casino or other game facilities using gaming currency.

Among many live table games played in a casino or a game facility, thereare Baccarat and blackjack. In such games, a standard deck configured by52 playing cards is used, and playing cards are distributed to a gametable from a shooter including a plurality of decks (6 to 9 decks or 10decks) shuffled in advance, and a game is played. In a casino or a gamefacility, gaming currency is used for such games.

The use of fake gaming currency should not occur in a casino. In orderto prevent the use of fake gaming currency in a casino, there is atechnology for preventing the use of fake gaming currency by attachingan RFID to gaming currency. The RFID-attached gaming currency is knownand is disclosed in WO 2008/120749 A.

This embodiment provides a management system or gaming currencypreventing the use of fakes of gaming currency used in a casino or agame facility, and the use and unjust exchange of fake gaming currencyin a casino or a game facility can be prevented. In recent years, thetechnologies for manufacturing fake gaming currency evolve, andtechnologies advance up to a level of copying an authenticitydetermination mark or an RFID almost perfectly. As a result, a mark oran RFID that is the same as a genuine authenticity determination mark ora genuine RFID is attached to gaming currency, genuine and fake gamingcurrency cannot be discriminated from each other, and there is a problemin that it is almost impossible to perform an authenticitydetermination.

In order to solve the conventional problem described above, a managementsystem of gaming currency according to this embodiment includes: gamingcurrency to which a side ID that can be individually identified isattached; an ID reading device that reads a side ID attached to thegaming currency; a storage in which the gaming currency is stored in acashier of a game house; a game table gaming currency tray that storesthe gaming currency; a gaming currency determining device that specifiestypes and quantities of the gaming currency stored in the game tablegaming currency tray and the storage by using the ID reading device; anda management control device that manages the IDs associated with thegaming currency in a database. The management control device hasfunctions of registering the IDs of the gaming currency to be used inthe database in advance, managing the IDs of the gaming currency presentat least in the game table gaming currency tray and the storage in thedatabase together with presence information by using the database,specifying the gaming currency in the game table gaming currency trayand the storage at predetermined timing, searching the database,determining the following events through the database search 1) an IDnot present in the database is newly present 2) two or more same IDs arepresent, and generating an error signal when a situation of 1) or 2)described above is present.

In addition, the management control device has functions capable of,when there is a change in the presence of the gaming currency at leastin the game table gaming currency tray and the storage, recording timeor a place at which there is the change in the database in associationwith the ID, searching the database, when there is a situation in whichtwo or more same IDs are present, extracting the ID and information oftime or a place recorded in association with the ID in the database fromthe database and storing extracted information, and specifying time whenthe gaming currency to which the ID is attached, which is detectedfirst, enters/exits the game table gaming currency tray or the storageor a place of the game table gaming currency tray or the storage inwhich the gaming currency is stored.

Furthermore, the management system of gaming currency may furtherinclude: a bet area gaming currency determining device specifying thetypes and quantities of the gaming currency bet on a bet area of thegame table by using the ID reading device and may have functions ofdetermining the following events through a search of the database alsofor the ID of the gaming currency present in the bet area of the gametable 1) an ID that has not been present in the database is newlypresent 2) presence of two or more same IDs and generating an errorsignal when there is a situation of 1) or 2) described above.

In addition, side IDs are attached to at least three positions on theside face of the gaming currency. The side IDs are attached throughinkjet printing by using ink that is visible using visible light.Particularly, a configuration is advantageous in which the side ID isattached as presence/absence of marks of a plurality of rows and aplurality of columns. In addition, transparent coating layers or varnishis disposed on the upper and lower faces of the gaming currency.

In order to solve the conventional problems, gaming currency accordingto this embodiment forms a stripe pattern on the side face in thestacking direction by employing a multi-layer structure in which aplurality of plastic layers having different colors are stacked, acoloring layer is included at least in one layer, white layers orthin-color layers are stacked on a further outer side than the coloringlayer and has a configuration enabling the type of the gaming currencyto be specified by the coloring layer. In addition, side IDs areattached to at least three positions on the side faces of the whitelayers and the thin-color layers, and the type and the manufacturinginformation of gaming currency can be specified by reading the ID byusing the ID reading device, and a configuration in which the ID can bemanaged in a database is included. Then, the side ID may be attachedusing ink (visible ink) that is visible for visible light through inkjetprinting. The side ID may be attached using ink (ink absorbing infraredrays, UV ink, or the like) that is not visible for visible light throughinkjet printing. In addition, the side ID may be printed using at leasttwo or more of ink that is visible for visible light, ink absorbinginfrared rays, and UV ink.

In order to solve the conventional problems described above, gamingcurrency according to this embodiment has a side ID that can beindividually identified attached thereto, the side ID attached to thegaming currency is read by an ID reading device, the ID reading devicecan read the gaming currency stored in a storage maintained by a cashierof a game house and a gaming currency tray of a game table, in addition,the types and the quantities of the gaming currency stored in the gamingcurrency tray and the storage are specified by a gaming currencydetermining device through the ID reading device, the ID of the gamingcurrency present in the gaming currency tray of the game table and thestorage is managed in the database together with the presenceinformation thereof, it is inspected whether at least 1) an ID that hasnot been present in the database is newly present and 2) two or moresame IDs are present, and the ID enabling the occurrence of thesituation 1) or 2) described above to be determined is included.

Hereinafter, a management system of gaming currency in a game houseincluding a game table according to an embodiment of the presentinvention will be described with reference the drawings. FIG. 16 is adiagram that illustrates an overview of the whole system. The managementsystem of gaming currency in a game house including a plurality of gametables 4 (only one game table is illustrated in FIG. 16) images thestate of progress of a game played in the game table 4 including a gameparticipant 6 and a dealer 5 through a plurality of camera devices 2 andstores and manages the state. Particularly, the management system ofgaming currency specifies the types and the quantities of gamingcurrency 120 used in the game table 4 by analyzing image informationacquired by the camera device 2. A side ID 126 is attached to the sideface of the gaming currency 120, and the types and the quantities of thegaming currency 120 is acquired by determining the side ID 126 andreading the types and the quantities. In addition, in thisspecification, a description of “side ID” or “ID” is used not only inthe meaning of an ID as a physical entity attached to the side face ofthe gaming currency 120 but also in the meaning of identificationinformation represented thereby. An ID reading device 53 disposed insidea management control device 50 connected to the camera device 2specifies a side ID 126 by analyzing image information acquired from thecamera device 2. Particularly, the management control device 50 includesa gaming currency determining device 52 specifying the types and thequantities of the gaming currency 120 that is in a horizontally alignedstate or in a piled state based on a result of the reading of the sideID 126 acquired by analyzing the image data imaged through the cameradevice 2 therein.

In addition, the management system according to this embodiment isconfigured to image gaming currency 120 disposed on a game table 4 byusing a plurality of camera devices 2 b-1 and 2 b-2, which havedifferent heights, arranged at predetermined positions in addition tothe camera device 2 that images the gaming currency 120 and records anacquired image. The camera device 2 b-1 can image gaming currency 120disposed at a relatively far position on the game table 4, and thecamera device 2 b-2 is configured to image gaming currency 120 disposedrelatively close on the game table 4. By performing imaging the twocamera devices 2 b-1 and 2 b-2, gaming currency 120 disposed at a placethat is in a blind area for one of the camera devices can be imaged aswell.

In a plurality of cashiers 60 present in a game house, the gamingcurrency 120 is exchanged with cash 61 paid by a game participant 6,and, in each cashier 60, gaming currency 120 is stored in a storage 62storing the gaming currency 120. In each cashier 60 of a game house,gaming currency 120 brought by a game participant 6 is refunded intocash 61. In the game table 4, gaming currency 120 is stored in a gametable gaming currency tray 17, and a dealer 5 collects gaming currency120 bet by a game participant 6 who has lost the game from the table 4in each game, returns the collected gaming currency 120 to the gametable gaming currency tray 17, and then re-pays the gaming currency 120to a game participant 6 who has won each game. All such exchangesbetween a game participant 6 and a cashier 60 of a game table or adealer 5 are imaged and recorded by all the camera devices 2. In thestorage 62 or the game table gaming currency tray 17, when there isexchange of gaming currency 120 with a game participant 6, the gamingcurrency 120 stored in the storage 62 or the game table gaming currencytray 17 increases or decreases. The types and the quantities of thegaming currency 120 stored in the game table gaming currency tray 17 andthe storage 62 are monitored at predetermined timing or constantly bythe ID reading device 53 and the gaming currency determining device 52through the camera device 2. The management control device 50 stores theside IDs 126 of all the gaming currency 120 assumed to be used in a gamehouse in the database 51 in advance (the side IDs 126 of all the gamingcurrency 120 assumed to be used in the game house are registered).

In addition, also in this embodiment, the gaming currency tray 17, asillustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B, may be configured by an upper gamingcurrency tray 17 a and a lower gaming currency tray 17 b of upper/lowertwo stages. In such a case, in the state illustrated in FIG. 14A, theupper gaming currency tray 17 a can be imaged by the camera device 2,and, in the state illustrated in FIG. 14B, the lower gaming currencytray 17 b can be imaged by the camera device 2. In the state illustratedin FIG. 14B, additionally, the upper gaming currency tray 17 a and thelower gaming currency tray 17 b can be imaged by the camera device 2 csimultaneously and also in an individually-identifiable state. Inaddition, in the state illustrated in FIG. 14B, the upper gamingcurrency tray 17 a and the lower gaming currency tray 17 b may beseparately imaged. Each of the camera devices 2 and 2 c may include asingle visible-light camera or a single infrared ray cameracorresponding to ink printed for the side ID 126 or a camera capable ofperforming switching among a plurality of functions of a visible-lightcamera and an infrared-ray camera corresponding to the printed ink.

In this way, in the game house, by using the database 51, the managementcontrol device 50 managing the side IDs 126 associated with gamingcurrency 120 manages all the side IDs 126 of at least gaming currency120 present in the game table gaming currency tray 17 and the storage 62in the database 51 together with the presence information thereof (thestorage 62, the game table gaming currency tray 17, in the middle ofmoving from a backyard (not illustrated in the drawing), held by a gameparticipant 6, or the like). The management control device 50 specifiesall the gaming currency 120 disposed in the game table gaming currencytray 17 and the storage 62 by using the side IDs 126 at predeterminedtiming or constantly, searches the database 51, and determines thefollowing events through the search of the database 51:

-   1) A side ID 126 that has not been present (or not present) in the    database 51 is determined to be newly present.-   2) Two or more same IDs are determined to be present.

The management control device 50 has a function of generating an errorsignal representing an abnormality and giving a notification to amanagement division or a security division 54 of the game house when thesituation of 1) or 2) described above is present. The management controldevice 50 specifies all the gaming currency 120 disposed in the gametable gaming currency tray 17 and the storage 62 at predetermined timingor constantly by using the side IDs 126 and stores all the gamingcurrency 120 in the database 51 and thus, can determine that 1) a sideID 126 that has not been present (or not present) in the database 51 isnewly present and 2) two or more same IDs are present.

In addition, when there is a change in the presence of the gamingcurrency 120 at least in the game table gaming currency tray 17 and thestorage 62, the management control device 50 records time or a place(the storage 62, the game table gaming currency tray 17, or the like) atwhich the change is present in the database 51 in association with theside ID 126 and, as a result of the search of the database 51, whenthere is a situation in which two or more same side IDs 126 are present,extracts the side ID 126 and information of time or a place recorded inthe database 51 in association with the side ID 126 from the database 51and stores the side ID and the information that have been extracted, andthus, time at which gaming currency 120 to which the side ID 126 isattached, which has been detected first (used first or cashed),enters/exits the game table gaming currency tray 17 or the storage 13 ora place of the game table gaming currency tray 17 or the storage 13 inwhich the gaming currency 120 is stored can be specified by using thedatabase 51. When the time and the place can be specified, a suspiciousperson for the use of unjust gaming currency 120 or the like can bespecified from the recorded video of the camera device 2.

In this management system of gaming currency, the management controldevice 50 can specify the types and the quantities of the gamingcurrency 120 bet on the bet area 8 of the game table 4 by using the IDreading device 53. The gaming currency 120 of the bet area 8 is imagedby the camera device 2 b that particularly images the bet area 8 and,also for the side ID 126 of the gaming currency 120 present on the betarea 8 of the game table 4, determines the following events by searchingthe database 51:

-   1) A side ID 126 that has not been present in the database 51 is    newly present in the bet area 16;-   2) Two or more same IDs are present.

The management control device 50 has a function of generating an errorsignal when a situation of 1) or 2) described above is present.

The management control device 50 of this system, the ID reading device53 disposed inside, and the gaming currency determining device 52specifying the types and the quantities of gaming currency 120 have astructure integrally including a computer formed as one body or by aplurality of configurations, a program, and a memory.

Next, details of gaming currency 120 (so-called gaming currency) used inthis system will be described. FIG. 17 is a side view of gaming currency120 used in this system, the gaming currency 120 is formed by stacking aplurality of plate-shaped plastic layers having different colors,forming the plastic layers to be integrated using a means ofthermo-compressing or the like, and then, punching holes in the shapesof circles and quadrangles. The gaming currency 120 manufactured in thisway has a multi-layer structure in which a coloring layer 121 isincluded at least in the middle, and white layers 122 or thin-colorlayers (may be layers of a color thinner than that of the coloring layer121; not illustrated in the drawing) are stacked on both sides (in FIG.17, the upper and lower sides) of the coloring layer 121 disposed in themiddle. In this way, by employing the multi-layer structure in which thecoloring layer 121 is included, and the white layers 122 or thethin-color layers (may be layers of a color thinner than that of thecoloring layer 121; not illustrated in the drawing) are stacked on bothsides of the coloring layer 121 disposed in the middle, as illustratedin FIG. 17, a stripe pattern (in the stacking direction) when seen fromthe side face is formed, and, by changing the color (red, green, yellow,blue, or the like) of the coloring layer 121 for each type (10 points,20 points, 100 points, 1000 points, and the like) of the gaming currency120, the type of the gaming currency 120 can be specified.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 17, in the gaming currency 120, aside ID 126 representing the type of gaming currency 120 is applied tothe side faces of the white layers 122.

In the outermost layers, transparent layers 124 are arranged, and eachinterlayer is thermo-compressed to form a structure of at least fivelayers. Such gaming currency 120 is formed by using a plastic materialhaving a thin long shape, and layers (at least the coloring layer 121and the white layers 122) are thermo-compressed to form a closelyadhering state (the structure of five layers or the like) in the stateof a long length, and thereafter, holes having a circular shape, arectangular shape, or the like are formed therein through press or thelike. When a hole is formed through the press, die of mold for punching,and the size of punching are designed, and R processing (round angle) isperformed for the ends of the transparent layer 124 of the outermostlayer. The transparent layers 124 may be a coat layer of varnish. Theside ID 126 is attached to at least three positions on the side face ofthe gaming currency 120. The side ID 126 is attached through inkjetprinting using ink that is visible for visible light.

Particularly, in this embodiment, the side ID 126 is configured to beattached as presence/absence of marks C of a plurality of rows and aplurality of columns. In the marks C of the plurality of rows and theplurality of columns, as illustrated in FIG. 17, upper and lower marks Care paired to configure a code, and a code of ten digits is formed inthe case illustrated in FIG. 17. A configuration in which upper andlower marks C are paired to configure a code (four types) is illustratedin FIG. 18. A letter “Y” disposed to the side of marks C is anidentification mark used for identifying upper and lower sides of amark. A code configured by marks C is configured to specify apredetermined combination of marks C. As a result, in the exampleillustrated in FIG. 18, there are four types of combination of the marksC of upper and lower two columns, and, by printing these in ten columns,four to the power of 10 codes can be configured. Since there are fourtypes of a 10-digit code, 4 to the power of 10 codes are acquired, andaccordingly, the side IDs 126 of gaming currency 120 can be sufficientlyassigned.

The gaming currency 120 forms a stripe pattern on the side face in thestacking direction by employing a multi-layer structure in which aplurality of plastic layers having different colors are stacked, thecoloring layer 121 is included at least in one layer, the white layers122 or the thin-color layers are stacked on a further outer side thanthe coloring layer 121 and has a configuration enabling the type of thegaming currency 120 to be specified using the coloring layer 121. Theside IDs 126 are disposed at least three positions (preferably, sixpositions) on the side face of the white layer 122 or the thin-colorlayer, and, in this example, six side IDs are disposed at apredetermined interval of 60 degrees in the rotation direction(circumferential direction). The side IDs 126 individually identifiable(different for each one) are attached to gaming currency 120, and theside IDs 126 are disposed at a predetermined interval of 60 degrees inthe rotation direction (circumferential direction) such that the side IDis necessarily seen from the lateral side. The side IDs 126 attached tothe gaming currency 120 are read by the ID reading device 53 describedabove. The type, the manufacturing information, and the like of gamingcurrency 120 can be specified by reading the side ID 126 by using the IDreading device 53, and a configuration in which the side ID 126 can bemanaged in the database 51 is formed. In this embodiment, the side IDs126 are attached using ink (visible ink) that is visible for visiblelight through inkjet printing. The side IDs 126 may be printed using atleast one or a combination of ink (ink absorbing infrared rays) that isnot visible for visible light and ink (including a side ID that is verysmall and is difficult to see) that is visible for at least visiblelight. In addition, the side IDs 126 may be printed by combining aplurality of such ink of a plurality of types. The ID reading device 53includes at least a plurality of cameras (that is, a visible-lightcamera in a case where ink is visible ink, an infrared-ray camera in acase where ink is infrared reactive ink, and an ultraviolet camera in acase where ink is UV ink(UV radiator and a visible-light camera))corresponding to the ink used for printing the side ID 126 or includes acamera capable of performing switching among a plurality of functions ofcameras (a visible-light camera, an infrared ray camera, and anultraviolet ray camera (an UV radiator and a visible-light camera or thelike)) corresponding to the ink.

In the case illustrated in FIG. 19, in gaming currency 120-1, side IDs126 are printed using ink (ink absorbing infrared rays) that is notvisible for visible light. In gaming currency 120-2, marks C of aplurality of rows and a plurality of columns are printed using ink thatis seen dark for visible light. In gaming currency 120-3, additionally,marks C are printed using ink seen dark for visible light also betweenthe side IDs 126, and the side IDs 126 are configured to dissolve in thedesign not to be visually distinguished. In gaming currency 120-4, astart point and an end point of the side ID 126 are represented by amark Cf representing the end. When the gaming currencies 120-1 to 120-4are seen using an infrared-ray camera, ink absorbing infrared raysabsorbs infrared rays to be seen dark, and the gaming currencies 120-1to 120-4 can be imaged in a state (represented as the gaming currency120-5) in which the side ID 126 can be read. In addition, the upper andlower sides of the side ID 126 are illustrated using a mark CLrepresenting the upper and lower sides. A relation between the upper andlower sides of the mark is as illustrated in FIG. 17. In addition, theside IDs 126 may be printed using a combination of ink that is visiblefor visible light and an infrared ray absorption ink.

The side IDs 126 attached to the gaming currency 120 are read by the IDreading device 53 described above, and the ID reading device 53 can readthe gaming currency 120 held in the storage 62 of a cashier of a gamehouse and the game table gaming currency tray 17 of the game table, andactually, as illustrated in FIG. 20A, when the gaming currency 120 isstacked horizontally, the side IDs 126 can be read. In addition, thegaming currency 120 stacked in the bet area 8 or the like, asillustrated in FIG. 20B, can be also read.

Furthermore, in the gaming currency 120, a face code using UV ink or ink(carbon black ink) absorbing infrared rays is arranged on the surface(X) of the white layer 122 (see FIG. 9B). This face code representsauthenticity of gaming currency 120, and, when ultraviolet rays (orinfrared rays) hit the face code, the face code becomes visible to theeyes and represents authenticity based on a combination of the forms anda number. While the transparent layers (print layers) 124 arethermos-compressed or coated in the outermost layers to cover a print123 (100 points or the like) used for specifying a game house and a facecode disposed on the surface, embossing process or varnish processing isperformed for the transparent layers 124, and the gaming currency 120 isprevented from adhering to each other and is caused to slide well. Inthe gaming currency 120, a circular recess 127 is arranged at the centerof each of the upper and lower faces. According to the recesses 127, thegaming currency 120 is prevented from being adhere to each other, and,by increasing the diameter of the recesses 127, the gaming currency 120can slide well.

The R processing (R) is performed for the ends of the transparent layers(print layers) 124 of the outermost layers for which a print 123 (100points or the like) is performed, and, in the punching process of thegaming currency 100, the surfaces of the white layers 122 are preventedfrom being deformed to appear on the side face. In addition, it isprevented that a sharp end remains in the gaming currency 100 anddamages the hands or the other gaming currency 120. The coloring layer121 may be formed by colored one layer or a plurality of layers. Inaddition, metal or ceramic used for increasing the weight may be builtin a layer included in the layer of the coloring layer 121. Morespecifically, in the material of the layer included in the layer of thecoloring layer 121, for example, metal powders (for example, a metaloxide of one or a plurality of metal oxides of zinc oxide and titaniumoxide) may be contained. In addition, a part of the coloring layer 121is hollowed out, or a space is arranged between the coloring layer 121and the white layer 122, and an RFID may be built therein. In such acase, as the side ID 126 of the gaming currency 120, a side ID 126according to a code using the marks C and a side ID using the RFID areused together.

In the gaming currency 120 configured in this way, the types and thequantities of the gaming currency 120 that is held in the game tablegaming currency tray 17 and the storage 62 are specified by the gamingcurrency determining device 52 through the camera device 2 and the IDreading device 53, and the side IDs 126 of the gaming currency 120present on the game table gaming currency tray 17 and the storage 62 aremanaged in the database 51 together with the presence informationthereof. In this way, at least, it is inspected whether 1) a side ID 126that has not been present in the database 51 is newly present 2) two ormore same side IDs 126 are present. By determining the occurrences ofthe situations of 1) and 2) described above by searching for all theside IDs 126, the inspection is realized.

As described above, while a game participant 6 can perform exchange ofcash 61 for gaming currency in the cashier 60, exchange of cash 61 forgaming currency 120 can be performed also in the game table 4. Thecamera device 2 images bills placed on the game table 4 to exchange themfor gaming currency 120. That is, a plurality of camera devices 2imaging the gaming currency 120 disposed on the game table 4 arearranged at different positions to have different heights.

The management control device 50 specifies the types and the quantitiesof gaming currency 120 to be discharged from the gaming currency tray 17in the exchange from bills by using a result of imaging of bills usingthe camera device 2. The management control device 50 compares realtotal amounts of the gaming currency 120 housed in the gaming currencytray 17 before and after the payment and determines whether or not thisdifference corresponds to the specified types and quantities of thegaming currency 120 to be discharged. That is, the management controldevice 50 determines through a comparison whether or not a total amountof the gaming currency 120 perceived in the gaming currency tray 17corresponds to an increase/decrease according to a paid amount of thegaming currency 120 corresponding to exchanged bills after the exchangeof the bills and the gaming currency 120. In addition, when collectionand re-payment according to a result of winning/losing of a game aresimultaneously performed, the management control device 50 determinesthrough a comparison whether or not the total amount corresponds to anamount of the gaming currency 120 bet by all the players 6 and anincrease/decrease in the gaming currency 120 calculated based on aresult of the winning/losing of the game.

Here, the management control device 50 is a control device having anartificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable ofacquiring information of the types and the quantities of the gamingcurrency 120 even in a state in which a part or whole one unit of thegaming currency 120 is hidden when the types and the quantities of thegaming currency 120 are measured and determined.

As described above, the side IDs 126 are attached to the white layers122 or the thin-color layers of the side face of the gaming currency 120at least at three or more positions spaced apart in a rotation direction(circumferential direction). The types and the manufacturing informationof gaming currency 120 can be specified by reading the side IDs 126 byusing the ID reading device 53. The specified information specifiedthrough measurement has a configuration that can be collated and managedwith the database 51.

The management control device 50 may be a control device having anartificial intelligence-utilizing or deep learning structure. Themanagement control device 50 can perceive the position 8 (a positionbetting on a player, a banker, or a pair), the types (a value of adifferent amount is assigned to the gaming currency for each color), andthe quantities of the gaming currency 120 by using an artificialintelligence-utilizing type computer or control system, a deep-learning(structure) technology, a self-learning function, or the like.

Hereinafter, a modified example of the gaming currency 120 will bedescribed. In the modified example, on the side face of the gamingcurrency 120, a seven-digit number is printed as the side ID 126. In theexample illustrated in FIG. 21, a white layer 122 is disposed in themiddle, and, under the white layer, a coloring layer 121 is disposed. Anumber as a mark is printed on the white layer 122 disposed in themiddle and configured a side ID 126. When 10 types of combinations ofnumbers are printed in seven digits, 10 to the power of 7 codes can beconfigured, and accordingly, the side IDs 126 of gaming currency 120 canbe sufficiently assigned. In the camera device 2 and an image analysisthereof, there are cases where it is difficult to determine and read anumber, a combination of marks C described in the previous embodiment isconsidered to be advantageous in the image analysis.

Another inspection device 300 inspecting the gaming currency 120 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 22. The inspection device 300 includes:a face code reading device 306 that reads a face code M formed using UVemission ink or ink absorbing infrared rays disposed on the surface ofthe gaming currency 120; an ID reading device 307 that reads the side ID126 of the side face; an RFID reading device 308 that reads informationof an RFID (not illustrated in the drawing) of the gaming currency 120;and a control device 207. The control device 207 is configured toinspect a relation among the information of the side ID 126 acquired bythe ID reading device 307, the information acquired from the face codereading device 306, and the information acquired from the RFID readingdevice 308. There is a correct database (not illustrated in thedrawing), and the relation among the information is inspected bycomparing a reading result with the database. This inspection is usedfor preventing the occurrence of a defect by detecting a print error inthe face code M and the side ID 126 or for discrimination with a fake.

This example (FIG. 22) includes an extrusion device 302 that suppliesgaming currency 120 one at each time to a reading stage 309 by using anextruder 301 that in moved in the direction of an arrow Z by theextrusion device 302, and the stacked gaming currency 120 is suppliedfrom the extrusion device 302 to the reading stage 309. In this way,previous gaming currency 120 for which the inspection is completed isextruded and falls in the direction of an arrow X, and the gamingcurrency 120 that has fallen in the direction of the arrow X is held ona holding stage 310.

Further another inspection device 400 that inspects gaming currency 120will be described with reference to FIG. 23. The inspection device 400includes: an RFID reading device 408 that reads information of an RFID(not illustrated in the drawing) of the gaming currency 120; an IDreading device 307 that reads the side ID 126 of the side face; and acontrol device 207 and is configured to inspect a relation between theinformation of the side ID 126 acquired by the ID reading device 307 andthe information acquired from the RFID reading device 408. There is acorrect database (not illustrated in the drawing), and the relationamong the information is inspected by comparing a reading result withthe database. This inspection is used for preventing the occurrence of adefect by detecting a print error in the face code M and the side ID 126or for discrimination with a fake.

The ID reading device 307 includes a single visible-light camera or asingle infrared-ray camera corresponding to ink used for print the sideID 126 and is configured to include a camera 409 capable of performingswitching among a plurality of functions of a visible-light camera andan infrared-ray camera corresponding to the printed ink. Thevisible-light camera can read the number and the color of the gamingcurrency 120, and the infrared-ray camera can read the side ID 126 ofthe gaming currency 120.

Still another inspection device 450 inspecting gaming currency 120 willbe described with reference to FIG. 24. A same reference numeral isassigned to a same component as that of the inspection device 400 (thedescription thereof will not be presented). An ID reading device 307 isconfigured to include a plurality of visible-light cameras 304 orinfrared-ray cameras 305 corresponding to ink used for printing the sideID 126. The visible-light camera 304 can read the number and the colorof the gaming currency 120, and the infrared-ray camera 305 can read theside ID 126 of the gaming currency 120.

A management control device 50 acquires a total amount of gamingcurrency (chips) placed in a gaming currency tray 17 after a settlementat the time of the end of a game through a gaming currency determiningdevice 52. A determination of “after a settlement” is when any one ofthe following 1) to 4) occurs: 1) when re-payment for winning gamingcurrency 120 (winning chips) is completed; 2) when cards C used in thisgame are collected and are disposed in a disposal area or a disposalslot of the table; 3) when a predetermined button accompanying a carddistributing device 3 functioning as a winning/losing result determiningdevice is pressed; 4) when a marker 43 representing winning/losing isreturned to the original state.

In addition, in this embodiment, an image analyzing device 18 accordingto the second embodiment that records a state of process of a gameplayed in the game table 4 as a video including game participants 6 anda dealer 5 through a plurality of camera devices 2 and performs an imageanalysis of the recorded video of the state of process of the game toanalyze and perceive a total amount of the gaming currency 120 in thegaming currency tray 17 of a dealer 5 of the game table 4 and ameasurement device 19 that performs an analysis and measurement by usinginformation acquired by the image analyzing device 18 and determines thetypes and the quantities of the gaming currency 120, and/or a markreading device 205 that reads a face code formed using UV emission inkor ink absorbing infrared rays disposed on the surface of the gamingcurrency 120 are combined, and an RFID reading device 308 that readsinformation of an RFID 125 of the gaming currency 120 is combined as isnecessary, whereby an inspection device as below including a managementcontrol device 50 can be configured.

That is, by combining the RFID reading device 308 reading theinformation of the RFID 125 of the gaming currency 120 with theconfiguration described above, an inspection device including the IDreading device 53 reading the side ID 126 of the side face and themanagement control device 50 can be configured. In this inspectiondevice, the management control device 50 inspects a relation between theinformation of the side ID 126 read by the ID reading device 53 and theinformation of the RFID 125 read by the RFID reading device 308 isinspected.

In addition, by combining the mark reading device 205 of the secondembodiment that reads a face code formed using UV emission ink or aninfrared-ray absorption ink arranged on the upper face or the lower faceof the gaming currency 120 with the configuration described above, aninspection device including the ID reading device 53 reading the side ID126 of the side face and the management control device 50 can beconfigured. In this inspection device, the management control device 50inspects a relation between the information of the side ID 126 read bythe ID reading device 53 and the information of the face code read bythe mark reading device 205.

In addition, by combining the mark reading device 205 of the secondembodiment that reads a face code formed using UV emission ink or aninfrared-ray absorption ink arranged on the surface of the gamingcurrency 120 and an RFID reading device 308 reading information of theRFID 125 of the gaming currency 120 with the configuration describedabove, an inspection device including the ID reading device 53 readingthe side ID 126 of the side face and the management control device 50can be configured. In this inspection device, the management controldevice 50 inspects a relation among the information of the side ID 126read by the ID reading device 53, the information of the face code readby the mark reading device 205, and the information of the RFID 125 readby the RFID reading device 308.

As described above, in this embodiment, in the gaming currency 120, sideIDs 126 used for identifying each individual is attached to the outerfaces of the white layer 122 or the thin-color layer.

The side IDs 126 are attached to at least three or more positions spacedapart in a rotation direction (circumferential direction) of the gamingcurrency 120.

In addition, the side IDs 126 are printed using non-visible ink (forexample, infrared-ray absorption ink or UV emission ink) that is notvisible for visible light.

Furthermore, the side IDs 126 are disposed in a plurality of rows on theside faces of two layers of the white layers 122 or the thin-colorlayers.

In addition, at least one layer among the plurality of plastic layersconfiguring the coloring layer 121 and the white layers 122 is a layercontaining metal powders (for example, a metal oxide of one or aplurality of metal oxides of zinc oxide and titanium oxide) used forincreasing the weight in the layer.

In addition, the side IDs 126 may be printed using at least two or moretypes of ink among ink that is visible for visible light, aninfrared-ray absorption ink, and UV ink. In such a case, the ID readingdevice 53 includes a plurality of cameras corresponding to each ink usedfor printing the side IDs 126 or includes a camera capable of performingswitching among a plurality of imaging functions corresponding to eachink.

In addition, the gaming currency 120 is manufactured as below. First, acoloring layer 121 and white layers 122 or thin-color layers having thecoloring layer 121 interposed therebetween are thermos-compressed,whereby a stacked structure body including a plurality of plastic layersis formed. Then, drawing patterns are printed on at least the upper faceor the lower face of the stacked structure body, whereby a gamingcurrency original plate is generated. Then, punching processing isperformed for the gaming currency original plate by using a mold,whereby a plurality of gaming currencies having a predetermined shapeare acquired. Here, in at least one layer among the plurality of plasticlayers, a layer containing metal powders or a metal oxide used forincreasing the weight is used.

On side faces of the gaming currency 120 manufactured in this way, sideIDs 126 used for identifying each individual are printed. At this time,the side IDs 126 may be printed through inkjet printing.

In addition, an RFID 125 is interposed between the layers of the stackedstructure body, and the layers having the RFID 125 interposedtherebetween are heated and welded when the layers arethermos-compressed, whereby the periphery of the RFID 125 is fixed to beadhering to the plastic layers.

In addition, the management system of table games according to thisembodiment includes: a gaming currency tray 17 that is disposed on agame table 4 and holds gaming currency 120 for each type; a cameradevice 2 that images the gaming currency 120 held in the gaming currencytray 17; and a management control device 50 that specifies the types andthe quantities of gaming currency 120 held in the gaming currency tray17 and measures a total amount of the gaming currency 120 disposed onthe gaming currency tray 17 by using a result of the imaging performedby the camera device 2.

The gaming currency 120 is a stacked structure body in which thecoloring layer 121 and the white layers 122 or the thin-color layers arestacked and has a stripe pattern on the side face in the stackingdirection. The management control device 50 has a function of measuringthe number of the coloring layers 121 or the white layers 122 or thethin-color layers of the gaming currency placed by each game participantand determining the types and the amount of the gaming currency based onthe colors of the coloring layers 121.

The management control device 50 determines whether or not a real totalamount of the gaming currency 120 after the end of a game that isperceived on the gaming currency tray 17 corresponds to anincrease/decrease amount of the gaming currency 120 calculated based onthe amount of the gaming currency 120 bet by all the players 6 and aresult of winning/losing of the game.

In the management control device 50, the acquisition of the total amountof the gaming currency 120 in the gaming currency tray 17 after asettlement at the time of end of a game may be performed at one of: 1)time when re-payment for winning gaming currency 120W ends; 2) time whencards used in the game are collected and are disposed in a disposal areaof the table; 3) time when a predetermined button accompanying a carddistributing device 3 functioning as a winning/losing result determiningdevice is pressed; and 4) time when a marker representing winning/losingis returned to the original state.

The camera device 2 can also image bills place on the game table 4 forexchange of the gaming currency 120, and the management control device50 specifies the types and the quantities of gaming currency 120disposed on the gaming currency tray 17 to be decreased according toexchange of the gaming currency 120 disposed on the gaming currency tray17 and bills by using a result of the imaging of the bills and performsa comparison with a real total amount of the gaming currency 120disposed on the gaming currency tray 17.

The management control device 50 determines through a comparison whethera total amount of gaming currency 120 perceived in the gaming currencytray 17 corresponds to an increase/decrease according to a paid amountof gaming currency 120 corresponding to exchanged bills after theexchange of the bills and gaming currency 120 is performed and anincrease/decrease in gaming currency 120 calculated based on the amountof gaming currency 120 bet by all the players 6 and a result ofwinning/losing of the game.

The management control device 50 is a control device having anartificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable ofacquiring information of the types and the quantities of gaming currency120 also in a state in which a part or one unit of the gaming currency120 is hidden when the types and the quantities of the gaming currency120 are measured and determined.

The side IDs 126 attached to the white layers 122 or the thin-colorlayers of the side face of the gaming currency 120 at least at three ormore positions spaced apart in a rotation direction (circumferentialdirection), the types and manufacturing information of gaming currency120 can be specified by reading the side ID 126 by using the ID readingdevice 53, and the specified information specified through measurementhas a configuration that can be collated and managed with the database51.

The side IDs 126 may be printed using two or more types of ink among ink(visible ink) that is visible for visible light, infrared-ray absorptionink, and UV emission ink. In such a case, the ID reading device 53includes a plurality of types of cameras (a plurality of types of avisible-light camera, an infrared-ray camera, and an ultraviolet camera(a UV radiator and a visible-light camera, and the like) correspondingto ink used for printing the side IDs 126.

Alternatively, a camera capable of performing switching among aplurality of imaging functions (a visible-light camera, an infrared-raycamera, and an ultraviolet camera (a UV radiator and a visible-lightcamera, and the like) corresponding to each ink may be included.

In addition, a configuration may be employed in which gaming currency120 disposed on the game table 4 is imaged by using a plurality ofcamera devices 2 b-1 and 2 b-2 that are arranged at predeterminedpositions and have different heights.

In the embodiments described above, while the image analyzing device 12and the control device 14 are devices having an artificialintelligence-utilizing or deep learning structure, more specifically,the image analyzing device 12 and the control device 14 may perform animage analysis and various control processes described above by using ascale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) algorithm, a convolutionalneural network (CNN), deep learning, machine learning, or the like. Suchtechnologies are technologies for recognizing a target included in animage by performing image recognition for a captured image, andparticularly, in recent years, a target is recognized with high accuracyby using a deep learning technology having multi-layered neural network.In this deep learning technology, generally, in an intermediate layerbetween an input layer and an output layer of a neural network, layersoverlap each other over a plurality of stages, and accordingly, a targetis recognized with high accuracy. In these deep learning technologies,particularly, a convolutional neural network has attracted attentionowing to high performance according to recognition of a target based onconventional image features.

In the convolutional neural network, a recognition target image to whichlabels are assigned is learned, and main target included in therecognition target image is recognized. In a case where a plurality ofmain targets are present in a learning image, a designation is madeusing an area rectangular, and learning is performed with a labelassigned to an image corresponding to the designated area. In addition,in the convolutional neural network, a main target in an image and theposition of the target can be determined.

The convolutional neural network will be further described. In a targetrecognition process, by performing an edge extracting process and thelike for a recognition target image, candidate areas are extracted basedon local features, and, after feature vectors are extracted by inputtingthe candidate areas to the convolutional neural network, classificationis performed, and a candidate area having a classified highest certaintyfactor is acquired as a result of the recognition. Here, the certaintyfactor is an amount representing a relative degree of highness of thesimilarity of a subject of an image learned together with an image areaand a label relative to the similarity of the other classes.

In addition, devices having artificial intelligence-utilizing ordeep-learning structures are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,361,577, US2016-171336 A, US 2015-036920 A, JP 2016-110232 A, and the like, thecontent of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Although the first to third embodiments have been described above, ofcourse, the embodiments described above can be modified by a personskilled in the art, and according to the necessity in an applied game,the device of the present embodiment may be properly modified.

The following invention is disclosed according to the first to thirdembodiments.

Gaming currency according to an aspect of the first to third embodimentsis gaming currency in which a stacked structure body formed by aplurality of plastic layers is configured by stacking at least acoloring layer and a white layer or a thin-color layer, a stripe patternis formed on a side face in a stacking direction, a configurationenabling a type of gaming currency to be specified by the coloring layeris included, a print layer representing a type of the gaming currency isapplied to a further upper and lower faces of the stacked structurebody, and a layer structure is formed by thermo-compressing eachinterlayer.

In the gaming currency described above, a side ID that can beindividually identified may be attached to an outer face of the whitelayer or the thin-color layer.

In the gaming currency described above, the side IDs may be attached toat least three or more positions spaced apart in a rotation direction ofthe side face of the gaming currency.

In the gaming currency described above, the side ID may be printed usingink that is not visible for visible light.

In the gaming currency described above, the side ID may be printed usingink absorbing infrared rays.

In the gaming currency described above, the side ID may be disposed in aplurality of rows on each of outer faces of two layers of the whitelayers or the thin-color layers.

In the gaming currency described above, R processing may be performedfor outer angles of upper and lower faces of the print layer.

In the gaming currency described above, at least one layer of theplurality of plastic layers may be a heavy layer containing metal powderused for increasing the weight.

In the gaming currency described above, the metal powder used forincreasing the weight may be a metal oxide and may be one or a pluralityof metal oxides, particularly, among a zinc oxide and a titanium oxide.

In the gaming currency described above, white layers or thin-colorlayers may be disposed on both sides with the coloring layer interposedtherebetween, and thicknesses of upper and lower layers of the whitelayers or the thin-color layers having the coloring layer interposedtherebetween may be configured to be different from each other.

In the gaming currency described above, an RFID may be tightly fixedbetween plastic layers each forming any one of the coloring layer andthe white layer or the thin-color layer.

In the gaming currency described above, a face code formed using UVemission ink or ink absorbing infrared rays may be disposed on the printlayer.

In the gaming currency described above, a structure in which side IDsare attached to a side face, and an RFID is built may be formed, a facecode formed using UV emission ink or ink absorbing infrared rays isdisposed on the print layer, and information of the sides ID attached tothe side face and information of the RFID may be associated with eachother, the information of the side ID and information of the face codemay be associated with each other, or the information of the side ID,the information of the RFID, and the information of the face code may beassociated with each other.

An inspection device according to an aspect of the first to thirdembodiments is an inspection device inspecting the gaming currency andincludes: an RFID reading device that reads information of the RFID ofthe gaming currency; an ID reading device that reads the side IDdisposed on the side face; and a control device. A relation betweeninformation of the side ID acquired by the ID reading device andinformation acquired by the RFID reading device is configured to beinspected.

An inspection device according to another aspect of the first to thirdembodiments is an inspection device inspecting the gaming currency andincludes: a face code reading device that reads the face code formedusing UV emission ink or ink absorbing infrared rays disposed on thesurface of the gaming currency; an ID reading device that reads the sideID disposed on the side face; and a control device. The control deviceis configured to inspect a relation between information of the side IDacquired by the ID reading device and information acquired by the facecode reading device.

An inspection device according to further another aspect of the first tothird embodiments is an inspection device inspecting the gaming currencyand includes: a face code reading device that reads the face code formedusing UV emission ink or ink absorbing infrared rays disposed on thesurface of the gaming currency; an ID reading device that reads the sideID disposed on the side face; an RFID reading device that readsinformation of the RFID of the gaming currency; and a control device. Arelation among information of the side ID acquired by the ID readingdevice, information acquired by the face code reading device, andinformation acquired by the RFID reading device is configured to beinspected.

In the inspection device described above, the side ID may be printedusing at least one or a combination of ink that is visible for visiblelight and ink absorbing infrared rays, and the ID reading device mayinclude one or a plurality of visible-light cameras or infrared-raycameras corresponding to the ink used for printing the side ID or acamera capable of performing switching among a plurality of functions ofa visible-light camera and an infrared-ray camera corresponding to theink.

In the inspection device described above, a determination device of atype of the gaming currency that images the side face of the gamingcurrency and determines a color of a stripe pattern of the side face ina stacking direction or a print inspecting device that reads a print ofa print layer arranged in the gaming currency may be further included,and a relation between the type of the gaming currency and a printcontent of the print layer may be inspected.

A method of manufacturing gaming currency according to an aspect of thefirst to third embodiments includes: forming a stacked structure bodyformed by a plurality of plastic layers by stacking at least a coloringlayer and a white layer or a thin-color layer; arranging a print layerin which a drawing pattern is printed on at least an upper face or alower face of the stacked structure body of the plurality of plasticlayers; generating a gaming gaming currency original plate by heatingand welding the layers by performing thermo-pressing of the layers ofthe stacked structure body and the print layer; and acquiring aplurality of gaming currencies having a predetermined shape byperforming punching processing of the gaming gaming currency originalplate using a mold and performing R processing of upper and lower anglesof outer sides of the gaming currency using a mold at the time ofperforming the punching processing.

A method of manufacturing gaming currency according to another aspect ofthe first to third embodiments includes: forming a stacked structurebody formed by a plurality of plastic layers by including a coloringlayer at least in the middle and stacking a white layer or a thin-colorlayer on upper and lower sides of the coloring layer disposed in themiddle; using a layer containing metal powder or a metal oxide used forincreasing the weight inside the layer as at least one layer of theplurality of plastic layers; arranging a print layer in which a drawingpattern is printed on at least an upper face or a lower face of thestacked structure body; generating a gaming gaming currency originalplate by heating and welding the layers by performing thermo-pressing ofthe layers of the stacked structure body and the print layer; andacquiring a plurality of gaming currencies having a predetermined shapeby performing punching processing of the gaming gaming currency originalplate using a mold.

In the method of manufacturing gaming currency described above, a sideID may be attached through inkjet printing.

In the method of manufacturing gaming currency described above, an RFIDmay be interposed between the layers of the stacked structure body, andthe layers having the RFID interposed therebetween may be heated andwelded when the layers are thermos-compressed, and a periphery of theRFID may be tightly fixed by the plastic layers.

In the method of manufacturing gaming currency described above, one or aplurality of face codes, security marks, optical variable devices (OVD)may be printed in the print layer.

A management system of a table game according to an aspect of the firstto third embodiments includes: a card distributing device thatdetermines and displays a result of winning/losing of each game in agame table; a camera device that images and records gaming currencyplaced on the game table by using a camera; a management control devicethat specifies and stores a position, types, and quantities of thegaming currency placed on the game table by a game participant by usinga result of the imaging performed by the camera device in each game. Thegaming currency is formed as a structure body including a coloring layerand a white layer or a thin-color layer at least in an outer appearanceto form a stripe pattern on a side face in an axial direction and has aconfiguration enabling the type of the gaming currency to be specifiedusing the coloring layer, and the management control device has acalculation function of calculating a balance of a casino side on thegame table for each game by using the result of winning/losing acquiredfrom the card distributing device and the result of the imaging of theposition, the types, and the quantities of the gaming currency placed bya game participant.

In the management system of a table game described above, the managementcontrol device may have a function of determining the types and anamount of the gaming currency by using colors of coloring layers bymeasuring the numbers of the coloring layers or white layers orthin-color layers of the gaming currency placed by each gameparticipant.

In the management system of a table game described above, while themanagement control device images the position, the types, and thequantities of the gaming currency placed by each game participant ineach game, it is performed when the card distributing device detectsdrawing of a first card, before and after the drawing, or afterrecognition of a dealer's signal representing an end of betting in themanagement control device.

A management system of a table game according to another aspect of thefirst to third embodiments includes: a gaming currency tray that isdisposed on a game table and holds gaming currency for each type; acamera device that images the gaming currency placed in the gamingcurrency tray by using a camera; and a management control device thatspecifies and stores types and quantities of gaming currency disposed onthe gaming currency tray by using a result of the imaging performed bythe camera device. The gaming currency is formed as a structure bodyincluding a coloring layer and a white layer or a thin-color layer atleast in an outer appearance to form a stripe pattern on a side face inan axial direction and has a configuration enabling the type of thegaming currency to be specified using the coloring layer, and themanagement control device is configured to be able to measure a totalamount of the gaming currency disposed on the gaming currency tray byusing a result of the imaging of the types and the quantities of thegaming currency disposed on the gaming currency tray.

In the management system of a table game described above, the managementcontrol device may have a function of determining the types and anamount of the gaming currency by using colors of coloring layers bymeasuring the numbers of the coloring layers or white layers orthin-color layers of gaming currency placed by each game participant.

In the management system of a table game described above, the managementcontrol device may be configured to be able to determine a difference ofa real total amount of gaming currency after end of a game that isperceived in the gaming currency tray of a dealer of the game table thatdoes not correspond to an increased/decreased amount of gaming currencycalculated based on an amount of gaming currency bet by all the playersand a result of winning/losing of the game.

In the management system of a table game described above, theacquisition of the total amount of the gaming currency in the gamingcurrency tray through the management device after a settlement at thetime of end of a game may be performed at one of: 1) time whenre-payment for winning gaming currency ends; 2) time when cards used inthe game are collected and are disposed in a disposal area of the table;3) time when a predetermined button accompanying a winning/losing resultdetermining device is pressed; and 4) time when a marker representingwinning/losing is returned to the original state.

In the management system of a table game described above, the cameradevice may also be able to image bills used for exchange of the gamingcurrency, and the management control device may be configured to specifytypes and quantities of gaming currency disposed on the gaming currencytray to be decreased according to exchange of the gaming currencydisposed on the gaming currency tray and bills by using a result of theimaging of the bills and be able to perform a comparison/measurementwith a real total amount of the gaming currency disposed on the gamingcurrency tray.

In the management system of a table game described above, the managementcontrol device may determine through a comparison whether a total amountof gaming currency perceived in the gaming currency tray of a dealer ofa game table corresponds to an increase/decrease according to a paidamount of gaming currency corresponding to exchanged bills after theexchange of the bills and gaming currency is performed and anincrease/decrease in gaming currency calculated based on an amount ofgaming currency bet by all the players and a result of winning/losing ofthe game.

In the management system of a table game described above, the managementcontrol device may have an artificial intelligence-utilizing ordeep-learning structure capable of acquiring information of types andquantities of gaming currency also in a state in which a part or oneunit of the gaming currency is hidden due to a blind area of the camerawhen the types and the quantities of the gaming currency are measuredand determined.

In the management system of a table game described above, a side ID maybe attached to the white layers or the thin-color layers of the sideface of the gaming currency at least at three or more positions spacedapart in a rotation direction, types and manufacturing information ofgaming currency may be able to be specified by reading the side ID byusing the ID reading device, and the specified information specifiedthrough measurement may have a configuration that can be collated andmanaged with a predetermined database.

In the management system of a table game described above, the side IDmay be printed using at least one of or both ink that is visible forvisible light and ink absorbing infrared rays, and the ID reading devicemay include one or a plurality of visible-light cameras or infrared-raycameras corresponding to the ink used for printing the side ID or acamera capable of performing switching among a plurality of functions ofa visible-light camera and an infrared-ray camera corresponding to theink.

In the management system of a table game described above, the cameradevice imaging and recording gaming currency disposed on the game tablemay be configured to image the gaming currency by using one or aplurality of cameras having different heights arranged at predeterminedpositions.

According to a system of the first to third embodiments, fraud incollecting and repaying gaming currency according to a result ofwin/loose of a game can be detected.

In addition, according to a system of the first to third embodiments,even when a card is bent according to player's squeeze of the card thatis frequently performed in a Baccarat game or the like, the rank and thesuit of the card can be determined through an image analysis, and atotal amount of gaming currency that is in a blind area or overlaps eachother can be perceived together with the position. In addition, fraud atthe time of exchange of bills and gaming currency can be detected aswell.

The fourth embodiment relates to an inspection system and an inspectiondevice for inspecting a gaming currency, and more specifically, to aninspection system and an inspection device for inspecting plural gamingcurrencies housed in a case.

Gaming currencies used in a gaming house such as a casino aremanufactured in a factory, are carried to the gaming house to be storedin a repository, and moved from the repository to a cashier or a gametable in the house, it is necessary to prevent the gaming currenciesfrom being stolen or replaced with a fake during carrying, storing, andmoving. Therefore, the case housing the gaming currencies is used. Sincethe case is stamped after housing the plural gaming currencies, it ispossible to discover a situation in which the gaming currencies areextracted from the case after stamping.

As the gaming currency, it is known the one in which a radio tag storingidentification information or information on kinds is built and aoptically readable code information indicating the identificationinformation or the information on kinds is given on a side surface (forexample, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-66172).

In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-66172, a system using a gamingcurrency is disclosed. The system calculates, for the gaming currenciesplaced on a betting board on a game table, the number of the gamingcurrencies based on the identification information stored in the radiotag, calculates the number of the gaming currencies based on theidentification information given to the side surface, and compares them.Thereby, if unfair gaming currencies are used on the game table, it canbe detected.

However, since the system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.2009-66172 detects injustice by calculating the number of the gamingcurrencies betted (placed on the betting board), even with this system,it is impossible to detect unfair gaming currencies by inspecting theplural gaming currencies housed in the case while being housed in thecase.

Then, the purpose of the fourth embodiment is to provide an inspectionsystem and an inspection device capable of inspecting plural gamingcurrencies housed in a case while being housed in the case.

An inspection system according to a first aspect of the fourthembodiment is an inspection system for inspecting a gaming currencyhaving at least first currency information and second currencyinformation, the second currency information being provided on a sidesurface of the gaming currency in a form which can be optically read,including: a case which stacks and houses plural gaming currencies; andan inspection device which inspects the gaming currencies housed in thecase, in which the inspection device includes: a first reading devicewhich obtains the first currency information of the gaming currencieshoused in the case; a second reading device which optically reads theside surfaces of the gaming currencies housed in the case and obtainsthe second currency information; and a determination part whichdetermines authenticity/damage or a number for each value of all gamingcurrencies existing in the case to determine pass or fail of the pluralgaming currencies housed in the case by using the first currencyinformation obtained by the first reading device and the second currencyinformation obtained by the second reading device.

According to this configuration, since a first reading part and a secondreading part obtain the first currency information and the secondcurrency information from the gaming currencies housed in the caserespectively, it is possible to perform inspection with respect to thegaming currencies while being housed in the case. Also, since theinspection is performed by obtaining two pieces of information, thefirst currency information and the second currency information from thegaming currencies, it is possible to certainly perform the determinationof the pass or fail.

In an inspection system according to a second aspect of the fourthembodiment, in the inspection system according to the first aspect, thefirst currency information and the second currency information on thecommon gaming currencies include common information, and if a commoninformation part of the plural pieces of the first currency informationobtained by the first reading device is not equal to that of the pluralpieces of the second currency information obtained by the second readingdevice, the determination part determines the plural gaming currencieshoused in the case are as fail.

According to this configuration, when unfair gaming currencies in whichthe common information part of the first currency information is notequal to that of the second currency information exist, thedetermination part can reject the gaming currencies housed in the case.

For example, if common identification information is recorded on theradio tag and the side surface, it is rejected, if plural pieces ofidentification information read out from the plural radio tags are notperfectly equal to plural pieces of identification information read outfrom the plural side surface.

In an inspection system according to a third aspect of the fourthembodiment, in the inspection system of the first aspect, both or eitherone of the first currency information or the second currency informationincludes individual identification information for individuallyidentifying the gaming currencies.

In an inspection system according to a fourth aspect of the fourthembodiment, in the inspection system of the first aspect, the secondcurrency information includes information expressed by a specific colorrepresenting a value of the gaming currency, and is informationindicating the value of the gaming currency with the specific color.

In an inspection system according to a fifth aspect of the fourthembodiment, in the inspection system of the third aspect, both of thefirst currency information and the second currency information includeindividual identification information, and if the individualidentification information of the plural pieces of the first currencyinformation obtained by the first reading device is not equal to that ofthe plural pieces of the second currency information obtained by thesecond reading device, the inspection system determines the pluralgaming currencies housed in the case as rejection.

According to this configuration, when unfair gaming currencies in whichthe individual identification information of the first currencyinformation is not equal to that of the second currency informationexist, the determination part can reject the gaming currencies housed inthe case.

An inspection system according to a sixth aspect of the fourthembodiment, the inspection system of the first embodiment, furtherincludes a storage part which stores the individual identificationinformation of at least the first currency information or the secondcurrency information of the plural gaming currencies which should behoused in the case, and the determination part determines the pluralgaming currencies housed in the case as rejection, if the individualidentification information of the plural pieces of the first currencyinformation obtained by the first reading device or the individualidentification information of the plural pieces of the second currencyinformation obtained by the second reading device are not equal to theindividual identification information of the first currency informationor the second currency information stored in the storage part.

According to this configuration, when unfair gaming currencies in whichthe first currency information and the second currency information areincorrect exist in the case, the determination part can reject thegaming currencies housed in the case.

For example, if individual identification information expressed bycharacters is recorded in the radio tag and individual identificationinformation expressed by numbers is recorded on the side surface, alsoin the storage part, for each case, plural pieces of individualidentification information expressed by characters for the radio tag arestored, and plural pieces of individual identification informationexpressed by numbers for the side surface is stored. If the pluralpieces of the individual identification information read out from theplural radio tags are not equal to the plural pieces of the individualidentification information stored in the storage part for the radio tagsof the case, or if the plural pieces of the individual identificationinformation read out from the plural side surfaces are not equal to theplural pieces of the individual identification information for the sidesurfaces of the case, it is possible to reject them.

An inspection system according to a seventh aspect of the forthembodiment, the inspection system of the first aspect, further includesa storage part which stores a correspondence relationship between thefirst currency information and the second currency information, and thedetermination part, if the plural pieces of the first currencyinformation obtained by the first reading device and the plural piecesof the second currency information obtained by the second reading deviceare not equal to the correspondence relationship stored in the storagepart, determines that the plural gaming currencies housed in the case asrejection.

According to this configuration, when the gaming currencies with theincorrect correspondence relationship between the first currencyinformation and the second currency information exist in the case, it ispossible to reject them.

For example, if the identification information is recorded in the radiotag and the value is recorded on the side surface, the storage partstores each identification information to which any value is assigned.For the plural pieces of the identification information read out fromthe plural radio tags, the number of values is obtained by referring tothe storage part, and if the number of values read out from the sidesurfaces is not equal to that, it is rejected. On the contrary, it isalso the same as a case when the value is recorded in the radio tag andthe identification information is recorded on the side surface. In thesecases, it is unnecessary that the storage part stores in which case thegaming currencies of which identification information are included.

In an inspection system according to an eighth aspect of the fourthembodiment, in the inspection system of any one of the first to theseventh aspects, the determination part, if the number of pieces of thefirst currency information obtained by the first reading device and thesecond currency information obtained by the second reading device is nota predetermined number, determines the plural gaming currencies housedin the case as rejection.

According to this configuration, when the gaming currencies areextracted from the case or the gaming currencies are added to the case,the determination part can reject the gaming currencies housed in thecase.

For example, if the number of housing in the case is 100, when eitherone of the first currency information read out from the radio tag or thesecond currency information read out from the side surface is not 100pieces, they are rejected.

In an inspection system according to a ninth aspect of the fourthembodiment, in the inspection system of any one of the first to theeighth aspects, the gaming currency includes color information forindicating a value of the gaming currency in the second currencyinformation and includes value information for identifying the value ofthe gaming currency in the first currency information, and thedetermination part, if the color information is not equal to the valueinformation of the first currency information, determines the pluralgaming currencies housed in the case as rejection.

In an inspection system according to a tenth aspect of the fourthembodiment, in the inspection of the ninth aspect, the second currencyinformation further includes value information of the gaming currency inaddition to the color information, and the determination part, if thevalue of the gaming currency according to the color information in thesecond currency information is not equal to both or either one of thevalue information of the second currency information or the valueinformation of the first currency information, determines the pluralgaming currencies housed in the case as rejection.

In an inspection system of an eleventh aspect of the fourth embodiment,in the inspection system of any one of the first to the tenth aspects,the gaming currency has the radio tag including the first currencyinformation.

In an inspection system of a twelfth aspect of the fourth embodiment, inthe inspection system of any one of the first to the eleventh aspects,at least one or both of the first currency information and the secondcurrency information includes group information indicating a group towhich the gaming currency belongs, and the group is classified accordingto the value, manufacturing time, manufacturer, and/or usage gaminghouse of the gaming currency.

In an inspection system of a thirteenth aspect of the fourth embodiment,in the inspection system of the tenth aspect, the determination part, ifthe color information is not equal to at least one of the valueinformation, the common information, or the individual identificationinformation of the first currency information and the second currencyinformation, determines the plural gaming currencies housed in the caseas rejection.

In an inspection system of a fourteenth aspect of the fourth embodiment,in the inspection of the tenth aspect, the determination part determinesthe number for each value of the plural gaming currencies housed in thecase or the total value of all gaming currencies, based on the colorinformation or the value information of the first currency informationor the second currency information.

In an inspection system of a fifteenth aspect of the fourth embodiment,in the inspection system of the first aspect, the second currencyinformation includes information expressed by the specific colorrepresenting the value of the gaming currency on the side surface of thegaming currency and is the information indicating the value of thegaming currency with the specific color, and the second reading deviceincludes a camera for shooting the side surfaces of the plural gamingcurrencies housed in the case, and an identification part which analysesan image shot by the camera to specify each specific color of the pluralgaming currencies, and specifies the values of the plural gamingcurrencies according to the specified specific color.

According to this configuration, the determination part can determinespass or fail using the information on the value of the gaming currency.

An inspection system of a sixteenth aspect of the fourth embodiment, inthe inspection system of the fifteenth aspect, the specific colorexpressing the second currency information, on the side surface of thegaming currency, is sandwiched between common colors commonly given onthe gaming currencies having different values in a thickness directionof the gaming currency.

According to this configuration, even if the plural gaming currenciesare stacked in the case, by extracting the specific color sandwiched bythe common colors from the image of the side surface, the identificationpart can specify the kinds of the plural gaming currencies in the case.

In an inspection system according to a seventeenth aspect of the fourthembodiment, in the inspection system of the first aspect, the secondcurrency information is indication information indicated on the sidesurface so as to be optically readable, and the second reading deviceincludes a camera for shooting the side surfaces of the plural gamingcurrencies stacked and housed in the case, and an identification partwhich analyses an image shot by the camera to specify indicationinformation of each of the plural gaming currencies, and specifies thesecond currency information of each of the plural gaming currenciesaccording to the specified indication information.

According to this configuration, the determination part can determinethe pass or fail using the indication information of the gamingcurrency.

In an inspection system of an eighteenth aspect of the fourthembodiment, in the inspection system of the seventeenth aspect, theindication information is indicated with an infrared-ray responsive inkthat emits light in response to infrared rays or an infrared-rayabsorbing ink that absorbs the infrared rays, and the camera is aninfrared-ray camera.

According to this configuration, the identification information given onthe side surface can be prevented from being visually recognized undernatural light.

In an inspection system according to a nineteenth aspect of the fourthembodiment, in the inspection system of the seventeenth aspect, theindication information is indicated with an ink that emits light inresponse to an ultraviolet rays, and the inspection device is furtherincludes an ultraviolet-ray irradiation part that irradiates theultraviolet rays to the side surfaces of the gaming currencies housed inthe case.

Also according to this configuration, the identification informationgiven on the side surface can be prevented from being visuallyrecognized under natural light.

In an inspection system according to a twentieth aspect of the forthembodiment, in the inspection system of the first aspect, the stampwhich is broken if it is opened so as to take out the gaming currencieshoused is made on the case, the inspection device further includes adetection part for detecting the unbroken stamp, and the determinationpart, if the unbroken stamp is not detected by the detection part,determines the plural gaming currencies housed in the case as rejection.

According to this configuration, when the stamp is broken, thedetermination part can reject the gaming currencies housed in the case.

In an inspection system of a twenty-first aspect of the forthembodiment, in the inspection system of the first aspect, the case has alight transmission part, and the second reading device optically readsthe side surfaces of the gaming currencies housed in the case throughthe light transmission part.

According to this configuration, it is possible to read the secondcurrency information while the case is closed.

In an inspection system of a twenty-second aspect of the forthembodiment, in the inspection system of the twenty-first aspect, thelight transmission part is configured of a transparent member.

According to this configuration, a sealed structure including the lighttransmission part is formed in the case.

In an inspection system of a twenty-third aspect of the fourthembodiment, in the inspection system of the first embodiment, theinspection device includes a case receiving part for receiving the case.

According to this configuration, by disposing the case in the casereceiving part, the first currency information and the second currencyinformation can be read.

In an inspection system of a twenty-fourth aspect of the fourthembodiment, in the inspection system of the twenty-first aspect, thecase is portable.

According to this configuration, it is possible to inspect the gamingcurrencies in the case at any point in a moving process from the factoryto the table or the cashier.

In an inspection system of a twenty-fifth aspect of the forthembodiment, in the inspection system of the first aspect, the case is atwo-stage chip float or chip tray for holding the gaming currencies on agame table.

An inspection system according to a twenty-sixth aspect of the forthembodiment is an inspection system for inspecting a gaming currencygiven a specific color representing a value thereof and indicationinformation indicated so as to be optically readable on a side surface,the inspection system including: a case which stacks and houses pluralgaming currencies; and an inspection device inspecting the gamingcurrencies housed in the case, the inspection device having aconfiguration including a camera for shooting the side surfaces of thegaming currencies housed in the case; an identification part whichanalyses an image shot by the camera to specify the specific color andthe indication information of each of the plural gaming currencies; anda determination part which determines pass or fail of the gamingcurrencies for each case, based on the specific color and the indicationinformation specified by the identification part.

According to this configuration, since the identification part specifiesthe specific color and the indication information about the gamingcurrencies housed in the case, it is possible to perform inspection withrespect to the gaming currencies while being housed in the case. Also,since two pieces of information, the specific color and the indicationinformation are specified from the side surface of the gaming currencyto perform the inspection, it is possible to certainly perform thedetermination of pass or fail.

An inspection system according to a twenty-seventh aspect of the fourthembodiment is an inspection system for inspecting a gaming currency inwhich a radio tag storing currency information is built and a specificcolor representing a value is given to a side surface, the inspectionsystem including: a case which stacks and houses plural gamingcurrencies; and an inspection device for inspecting the gamingcurrencies housed in the case, the inspection device having aconfiguration including a reading part which reads the radio tags of thegaming currencies housed in the case to obtain the currency information;a camera for shooting the side surfaces of the gaming currencies housedin the case; an identification part which analyzes an image shot by thecamera to specify the specific color of each of the plural gamingcurrencies; and a determination part which determines pass or fail ofthe gaming currencies for each case, based of the currency informationobtained by the reading part and the specific color specified by theidentification part.

According to this configuration, since the reading part obtains thecurrency information from the gaming currencies housed in the case andthe identification part specifies the specific color for the gamingcurrencies housed in the case, it is possible to perform inspection withrespect to the gaming currencies while being housed in the case. Also,since two pieces of information, the currency information and thespecific color are specified from the side surface of the gamingcurrency to perform the inspection, it is possible to certainly performthe determination of pass or fail.

An inspection device according to a twenty-eighth aspect of the forthembodiment is an inspection device for inspecting plural gamingcurrencies in which radio tags storing first currency information arebuilt and optically readable second currency information is given toside surfaces, and which are stacked and stored in the case, theinspection device including a configuration including a first readingdevice which reads the radio tags of the plural gaming currencies housedin the case to obtain the first currency information; a second readingdevice which optically reads the side surfaces of the plural gamingcurrencies housed in the case to obtain the second currency information;and a determination part which determines pass or fail of the gamingcurrencies for each case, based on the first currency informationobtained by the first reading device and the second currency informationobtained by the second reading device.

According to this configuration, since a first reading part and a secondreading part obtain the first currency information and the secondcurrency information from the gaming currencies housed in the caserespectively, it is possible to perform inspection with respect to thegaming currencies while being housed in the case. Also, since theinspection is performed by obtaining two pieces of information, thefirst currency information and the second currency information from thegaming currencies, it is possible to certainly perform the determinationof the pass or fail.

An inspection device of a twenty-ninth aspect of the forth embodiment isan inspection device for inspecting plural gaming currencies in which aspecific color representing values and an optically readable indicationinformation are given to side surfaces, and which are stacked and housedin a case, the inspection device including a configuration including acamera for shooting the side surfaces of the plural gaming currencieshoused in the case; an identification part which analyzes an image shotby the camera to specify the specific color and the indicationinformation of each of the plural gaming currencies; and a determinationpart which determines pass or fail of the gaming currencies for eachcase, based on the specific color and the indication informationspecified by the identification part.

An inspection device of a thirtieth aspect of the fourth embodiment isan inspection device for inspecting plural gaming currencies in whichradio tags storing currency information are built and a specific colorrepresenting values is given to side surfaces, and which are stacked andhoused in the case, the inspection device including a configurationincluding a reading part which reads the radio tags of the plural gamingcurrencies housed in the case to obtain the currency information; acamera for shooting the side surfaces of the plural gaming currencieshoused in the case; an identification part which analyzes an image shotby the camera to specify the specific color of each of the plural gamingcurrencies; and a determination part which determines pass or fail ofthe gaming currencies for each case, based on the currency informationobtained by the reading part and the specific color specified by theidentification part.

An inspection system of a thirty-first aspect of the fourth embodimentis an inspection system for inspecting a gaming currency in which aradio tag storing currency information is built, the inspection systemincluding a case which stacks and houses plural gaming currencies; andan inspection device which inspects the gaming currencies housed in thecase, the inspection device including a reading part which reads theradio tags of the gaming currencies housed in the case to obtain thecurrency information; a determination part which determines pass or failof the gaming currencies for each case, based on the currencyinformation obtained by the reading part; and a storage part whichstores the currency information of the plural gaming currencies thatshould be housed in the case, the determination part, if the pluralpieces of the currency information obtained by the reading part are notequal to the currency information stored in the storage part,determining the plural gaming currencies housed in the case asrejection.

An inspection device according to a thirty-second aspect of the fourthembodiment is an inspection device for inspecting plural gamingcurrencies stacked and housed in a case, the inspection device includinga configuration including a reading part which reads the radio tags ofthe plural gaming currencies housed in the case to obtain the currencyinformation; and a determination part which determines pass or fail ofthe gaming currencies for each case, based on the currency informationobtained by the reading part.

According to the forth embodiment, since the first reading part and thesecond reading part obtain the first currency information and the secondcurrency information from the gaming currencies housed in the caserespectively, it is possible to perform inspection with respect to thegaming currencies while being housed in the case. Also, since theinspection is performed by obtaining two pieces of information, thefirst currency information and the second currency information from thegaming currencies, it is possible to certainly perform the determinationof the pass or fail.

Hereinafter, referring to the drawings, the fourth embodiment will bedescribed.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a configuration of an inspection system inthe fourth embodiment. An inspection system 41 is composed of a case4100 for housing gaming currencies in stacked state, and an inspectiondevice 4200 which inspects the plural gaming currencies stacked andhoused in the case 4100 while being housed in the case 4100.

The case 4100 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, and ismade of a transparent resin. In the case 4100, disc-shaped gamingcurrencies C are housed while being stacked. In the case 4100, fivecolumns, each for housing 20 gaming currencies C, are formed, and 100gaming currencies C in total can be housed. The case 4100 can be carried(portable) while housing the gaming currencies C. The case 4100 iscomposed of a top part 4101 and a lower part 4102 which are separable,and by separating the top part 4101 and the lower part 4102, it becomespossible to house the gaming currencies C in the case 4100 and take outthe gaming currencies C from the case 4100.

An inspection device 4200 is composed of a receiving part 4210 and amain body part 4220. The inspection device 4200 can receive the case4100 with the receiving part 4210. The receiving part 4210 has arectangular parallelepiped shape where an approximate top surface and afront surface are opened as a whole, is formed of right and left sidewalls 4211, a bottom part 4212, and a deep wall 4213, and has a width, aheight, and a depth in which the case 4100 is just fitted.

The main body part 4220 is provided on a back side of the deep wall 4213of the receiving part 4210, and comprises an RFID reader 4221, acomputer 4222, and a display part 4223. The main body part 4220 isfurther provided with an infrared-ray camera 4225 and a visible-lightcamera 4226. The infrared-ray camera 4225 and the visible-light camera4226 are attached to a tip of an arm 4227 so as to shoot side surfacesof the gaming currencies C housed in the case 4100 from a top surfaceside of the case 4100 housed in the receiving part 4210.

To the computer 4222, the RFID reader 4221, the display part 4223, theinfrared-ray camera 4225, and the visible-light camera 4226 areconnected. To the RFID reader 4221, an RFID antenna 4224 is connected.The RFID antenna 4224 extends from the RFID reader 4221, and spirallyextends in the right and left side walls 4211. That is, in the inside ofeach of the right and left side walls 4211, the spiral RFID antenna 4224is laid, and each RFID antenna 4224 is connected to the RFID reader4221.

The display part 4223 is configured by a liquid crystal panel. Note thatthe liquid crystal panel may be provided with a touch sensor, and thedisplay part 4223 may be configured as a touch panel.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the gaming currency C in the fourthembodiment, and FIG. 27 is a side view of the gaming currency C in thefourth embodiment. The gaming currency C includes a specific coloringlayer 4501 characterized by a specific color at a middle part. On bothside (upper and lower sides in FIG. 27) in a thickness direction of themiddle specific coloring layer 4501, common coloring layers 4502characterized by a common color are included, thereby forming a stripedpattern (in the thickness direction) on the side surface.

Between the specific coloring layer 4501 and the one common coloringlayer 4502 of the gaming currency C, the RFID tag 4503 is inserted as aradio tag. The RFID tag 4503 stores, for example, individualidentification information for individually identifying (uniquelyspecifying) the gaming currency C and information on values (kinds), ascurrency information of the gaming currency C. A transparent layer 4504is provided at the most outer layer of the gaming currency C. That is,the gaming currency C has the specific coloring layer 4501 that is themiddle layer, the common coloring layers 4502 sandwiching the specificcoloring layer 4501 from both surfaces, and transparent layers 4504which are the most outer layers of both sides.

The gaming currency C is formed by long and thin elongated five layers(in the order of the transparent layer 4504, the common coloring layer4502, the specific coloring layer 4501, the common coloring layer 4502,and the transparent layer 4504) of plastic material, disposing the RFIDtags 4503 at predetermined intervals between the specific coloring layer4501 and the one common coloring layer 4502 at that time,thermocompression bonding the five layers of the plastic material, andthen punching that in a circular or rectangular shape by pressing andthe like so that one gaming currency C includes one RFID tag 4503. Whenpunching by pressing, R machining (a rounded corner) is applied at anedge of the most outer transparent layer 4504 by designing thedimensions of die and punch for a mold for punching.

Three layers composed of the specific coloring layer 4501 and two layersof the common coloring layers 4502 are thermocompression bonded, thenvarnish is applied on surfaces, and thus the transparent layers 4504 maybe formed. Also, the specific coloring layer 4501 and the two commoncoloring layers 4502 need not be separate members, and after beingintegrally formed, the specific color (and the common color) may beapplied on the side surface by inkjet printing and the like, therebyforming the specific coloring layer 4501 and the common coloring layers4502.

The specific coloring layer 4501 expresses values (kinds) of the gamingcurrencies C with a color (the specific color). That is, since the colorof the specific coloring layer 4501 is made to be different colors (red,green, yellow, blue, etc.) for the respective values of the gamingcurrencies C, by checking the color of a specific coloring layer 501that can be optically read from the side surface of the gaming currencyC, the value (such as 10 points, 20 points, 100 points, 1000 points,etc.) of the gaming currency C can be specified. On the common coloringlayers 4502, the common color (common color) is applied on the gamingcurrencies C having different values. The common color is preferablylighter than any specific color, and it is white in the presentembodiment.

On the side surface of the gaming currency C, furthermore, on the sidesurface (specifically, on the common coloring layers 4502 of the sidesurface), code information 4505 representing the currency information ofthe gaming currency C is indicated. The code information 4505 expressesthe information according to the layout of plural labels (they may bereferred to as marks and are square labels in the present embodiment).The specific coloring layer 4501 represents the information (the valueof the gaming currency C) with the color, whereas, the code information4505 expresses the information with the label indicated on the sidesurface, so that it may be referred to as indication information. Otherexamples of the indication information include plural character strings,number strings, bar codes, and the like.

The code information 4505 of the present embodiment is repeatedlyindicated at a cycle of 60 degrees in a circumferential direction of thegaming currency C. Thereby, when the side surface of the gaming currencyC is observed in the circumferential direction from any direction, thecomplete code information 4505 is included in a range of 120 degrees inthe circumferential direction. Note that the repeating cycle of thegaming currency C is not limited to 60 degrees, and the code information4505 may be repeatedly indicated at equal intervals in thecircumferential direction at least three times.

The code information 4505 is indicated by invisible ink. In the presentembodiment, by using the infrared-ray absorbing ink for absorbinginfrared rays (specifically, carbon black) as the invisible ink, thecode information 4505 is printed by inkjet printing. Since only theprinted part of the code information 4505 does not reflect infraredrays, by shooting the side surface of the gaming currency C with theinfrared-ray camera 4225, the code information 4505 will emerge. Notethat in order to make the printed part clearly emerge, the infrared-raycamera 4225 may include an infrared-ray lamp and irradiates infraredrays to the side surface of the gaming currency C to be shot.

Note that the invisible ink is not limited to the infrared-ray absorbingink, but may be an infrared-ray responsive ink that fluoresces inresponse to infrared rays or a UV ink that fluoresces in response toultraviolet rays. In the case of using the UV ink, an ultraviolet-raycamera is used instead of the infrared-ray camera 4225, and in order tocause the UV ink to fluoresce, a black light irradiating ultravioletrays to the side surface of the gaming currency C is used.

Furthermore, the gaming currency C is provided with a label (mark) m′ bythe UV ink or the carbon black ink on a surface X of the common coloringlayer 4502. The label m′ represents the authenticity of the gamingcurrency C, and upon irradiation with ultraviolet rays (or infraredrays), the label m′ becomes visible and represents a genuine one by thecombination of its shapes or numbers. In order to cover printing 4506(100 points and the like) for specifying a gaming house or the label m′on the surface, although the transparent layer 4504 is thermocompressionbonded or coated (applied) on the outermost layer, embossing orvarnishing is performed on the transparent layer 4504, therebypreventing the gaming currencies from adhering to each other andimproving slippage.

R machining (R) is performed on an edge of the transparent layer 4504 ofthe outermost layer which has been subjected to the printing 4506 (100points and the like), thereby preventing the surface of the commoncoloring layer 4502 from deforming and appearing on the side surface, ina punching process of the gaming currency C. Also, a sharp edge of thegaming currency C is prevented from damaging a remaining hand or othergaming currencies C. The specific coloring layer 4501 may be formed byone or more colored layers. Furthermore, metals and ceramics forincreasing weight may be interiorized in the layer in the specificcoloring layer 4501. Also, the RFID tag 4503 may be built by hollowingout a part of the specific coloring layer 4501, or in a space providedbetween the specific coloring layer 4501 and the common coloring layer4502.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of an image obtained by shootingthe plural gaming currencies C housed in the case 4100 with theinfrared-ray camera 4225 and the visible-light camera 4226. The case4100 in this case may be a two-stage chip float (especially a movableupper tray part in a two-stage chip tray) or a chip tray for holding thegaming currencies C on a game table. Even if the gaming currencies C arevertically stacked in the case 4100 as shown in FIG. 28, theinfrared-ray camera 4225 and the visible-light camera 4226 can shoot thecode information 4505. Also, by vertically counting the specificcoloring layers 4501, it is possible to count the number of the gamingcurrencies C. Even in a two-stage system, by developing each stage, itis possible to shoot the side surfaces of all gaming currencies C housedin the case 4100 with the infrared-ray camera 4225 and the visible-lightcamera 4226.

In the present embodiment, the code information 4505 is expressed by thelayout of the labels m with multiple rows and multiple columns. FIG. 29is a diagram for explaining a configuration of the code information4505. As shown in FIG. 29, the upper and lower labels m make a pair toform one code element. In the example of FIG. 29, one piece of the codeinformation 4505 is composed of ten-digit code elements. As shown inFIG. 29, there are four patterns in the one code element formed by theupper and lower labels m making the pair, and one code element canexpress four types of information, so that the code information 4505composed of the ten-digit code element can express 4 to the tenth powerkinds of information. A letter Y next to the ten-digit code element isan orientation discrimination mark Y for discriminating the orientationof the code information 4505.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the inspectiondevice 4200. The inspection device 4200 includes a barcode reader 4228and a communication part 4229, in addition to the RFID reader 4221, thecomputer 4222, the display part 4223, the RFID antenna 4224, theinfrared-ray camera 4225, and the visible-light camera 4226 which areshown in FIG. 25. Also, the computer 4222 is composed of a processor, amemory, and the like which are not shown, and the processor executes aninspection program to configure an identification part 4230 and thedetermination part 4231.

An RFID system is composed of the RFID reader 4221, the RFID antenna4224, and the RFID tag 4503 embedded in the gaming currency C. Thecurrency information of the gaming currency C stored in the RFID tag4503 embedded in the gaming currency C is read out by the RFID reader4221 without contacting, and used for processing in the computer 4222.

The infrared-ray camera 4225 includes an infrared-ray transmissionfilter transmitting infrared rays only, and picks up an infrared-rayimage. The infrared-ray image produced by the shooting of theinfrared-ray camera 4225 is sent to the computer 4222, and is subjectedto the processing of the identification part 4230. The visible-lightcamera 4226 picks up an image of light in a visible area. Also, thevisible-light image produced by the visible-light camera 4226 is sent tothe computer 4222, and is subjected to the processing of theidentification part 4230. As shown in FIG. 25, the infrared-ray camera4225 and the visible-light camera 4226 are oriented to the case 4100from an upper part of the case 4100, and shoot the side surfaces of theplural gaming currencies C in the case 4100 over the top part 4101 ofthe case 4100.

The barcode reader 4228 reads a barcode BC attached to the case 4100 toobtain case identification information described below. The display part4223 displays a determination result of the determination part 4231 ofthe computer 4222. The communication part 4229 performs datacommunication with a manufacture management device 4302 installed in afactory F or a use management device 4303 installed in a gaming house P.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the case 4100. The case 4100 is formedby joining the top part 4101 and the lower part 4102. In the presentembodiment, the top part 4101 and the lower part 4102 are made of atransparent resin. As described above, in inspection device 4200 of thepresent embodiment, since the infrared-ray camera 4225 and thevisible-light camera 4226 (hereinafter, simply referred to as a camera)are installed above the receiving part 210, it is necessary that atleast the upper surface of the case 4100 transmits light. That is, inthe case 4100, it is necessary that a part positioned between the case4100 and the camera when being received in the receiving part 4210 ofthe inspection device 4200 is a light transmission part which transmitslight. Note that in the present embodiment, although the case 4100 is asealed structure composed of the top part 4101 and the lower part 4102,the light transmission part may be in a perforated state.

The case 4100, as described above, has a shape formed with five columnsin which respective 20 gaming currencies C are stacked and housed, inparallel, and in an example of FIG. 31, a cross section of each columnis polygon (octagon) so that the top part 4101 and the lower part 4102generally conform the shape of the gaming currencies C to be housed.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the case 4100′ of a modification, andFIG. 33 is a plan view of the case 4100′. Also, the case 4100′ iscomposed of a top part 4101′ and a lower part 4102 which are made of atransparent resin. In the present modification, an upper surface of thetop part 4101′ facing the camera is formed by a plane. Thus, by makingthe surface facing the camera plane, as shown in FIG. 33, linear shadowsdue to corners of the polygonal cross section of the case 4100′ do notappear on the camera, and information of the side surface of the gamingcurrency C can be accurately identified, in an image analysis withrespect to a shooting image of the camera.

FIG. 34 is a diagram for explaining an example of a usage aspect of theinspection system 41 together with the distribution of the gamingcurrencies C. The gaming currencies C are manufactured by amanufacturing device 4301 in the factory F (sl), and respective 100currencies are housed in the case 4100 (s2). The case 4100 is stampedwith a stamp seal in the factory F after housing the gaming currenciesC. Also, in the case 4100, the barcode BC indicating the caseidentification information for uniquely specifying the case 4100 isaffixed to the side surface (s3).

At that time, in the manufacture management device 4302 in the factoryF, the case identification information of the barcode BC affixed to thecase 4100 is input (s4). Also, the case 4100 housing the gamingcurrencies C is subjected to the inspection device 4200 to read currencyinformation (the details will be described below) given to the gamingcurrencies C, and the inspection of pass or fail is performed. Then, thecurrency information read from the gaming currencies C housed in thecase 4100 is sent to the manufacture management device 4302 (s5), andare associated with the case identification information by themanufacture management device 4302. Note that the manufacture managementdevice 4302 may be a personal computer.

The case 4100 which has been passed in the inspection device 4200 in theFactory F is transported from the factory F to the gaming house P (s6).The case 4100 is firstly stored in a repository R in the gaming house P(s7). The inspection device 4200 is installed in the repository R, andthe case 4100 delivered from the factory F is inspected by theinspection device 4200.

On the other hand, from the manufacture management device 4302 in thefactory F, the case identification information and the currencyinformation associated with that are sent to the use management device4303 in the gaming house P. The use management device 4303 includes astorage part which obtains the case identification information and thecurrency information associated with that from the manufacturemanagement device 4302, for each of the plural cases 4100 housing thegaming currencies C, and stores them for each case 4100. Note that theuse management device 4303 may be a personal computer.

In inspection by the inspection device 4200 in the repository R, theinspection is performed by using the information stored in the usemanagement device 4303. The case 4100 which has been passed in theinspection in the repository R is carried to a game table T (s9), or iscarried to a cashier CA (s10). The game table T and the cashier CArespectively comprise the inspection devices 4200, and the case 4100housing the gaming currencies C is inspected by the inspection devices4200 while being stamped. In the game table T and the cashier CA, theinspection of the case 4100 housing the gaming currencies C which havebeen used is also performed, and the inspection devices 4200 are usedfor the inspection. In inspection in the three inspection devices 4200in the gaming house P, the case identification information and thecurrency information associated with that sent from the manufacturemanagement device 4302 and stored in the use management device 4303 arereferred to.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing an example of content of information whichis generated by the manufacture management device 4302, is sent to theuse management device 4303, and is stored in the use management device4303. The information is generated for each case 4100, and with each ofthe case identification information (Ca1, Ca2, Ca3 . . . ), the currencyinformation of the plural (100 in the present embodiment) gamingcurrencies C housed in the case 4100 is associated.

As the currency information, the RFID tag 4503 stores information madefrom the combination of individual identification information (aa, ab,ac, . . . , du, and dv) which uniquely specifies the gaming currency Cand information (r, r, r, . . . , b, and b) which specifies the value(kind) of the gaming currency C. Indication information on the sidesurface stores information made from the combination of individualidentification information (00001, 00002, 00003, . . . , 00099, and00100) which uniquely specifies the gaming currency C and information(1, 1, 1, . . . , 2, and 2) which specifies the value (kind) of thegaming currency C. Color information of the side surface storesinformation (red, red, red, . . . , blue, and blue) which specifies thevalue (kind) of the gaming currency C.

The information stored in the RFID tag 4503 is information that iselectromagnetically readable by the RFID reader 4221, and the indicationinformation and the color information corresponding to the firstcurrency information of the present embodiment and given to the sidesurface are optically readable information and correspond to the secondcurrency information of the present embodiment.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing an example of contents of informationrespectively obtained from one case 4100 by the barcode reader 4228, theRFID reader 4221, the infrared-ray camera 4225, and the visible-lightcamera 4226, in the inspection device 4200. From the RFID reader 4221,English character strings stored in the RFID tags 4503 built in theplural gaming currencies C are read out. From the infrared-ray camera4225, number stings which are indication information indicated on theside surfaces are read out. Also, from the visible-light camera 4226,colors of the side surfaces are read out. The identification part 4230analyzes (an image of) the number strings that are read out from theinfrared-ray camera 4225 to identify numbers and specify informationmade from the number strings, and specifies a specific color from animage of the side surfaces read out from the visible-light camera 4226.

Here, although the indication information and the information of thespecific color of the side surfaces of the plural gaming currencies Ccan be obtained according to the aligning order of the gaming currenciesC in the case 4100, the information obtained from the plural RFID tags4503 cannot be obtained according to the aligning order of the gamingcurrencies C. That is, it is impossible to specify from which gamingcurrency C the information of the RFID tag 4503 is obtained.

Next, a method of determining pass or fail in the computer 4222 of theinspection device 4200 will be described. As described above, theidentification part 4230 specifies the currency information stored inthe RFID tags 4503 of the plural gaming currencies C housed in the case4100, based on the reading result of the RFID reader 4221, analyzes theinfrared-ray image obtained by the infrared-ray camera 4225 to specifythe currency information indicated by the indication information, andanalyzes the visible-light image obtained by the visible-light camera4226 to specify the color of the specific coloring layer 4501. Thedetermination part 4231, based on the information, determinesauthenticity/damage or a number for each value of all of the gamingcurrencies existing in the case 4100 to determine the pass or fail ofthe case 4100. In the following description, the currency informationstored in the RFID tag 4503 is referred to as the first currencyinformation, and the indication information and the information of thecolor of the specific coloring layer 4501 given to the side surface ofthe gaming currency C is referred to as the second currency information.

In a first method of determining pass or fail, as shown in FIG. 37, thefirst currency information and the second currency information in thesame gaming currency C are made to be the same information. In anexample of FIG. 37, the first currency information is information madefrom the individual identification information and the value informationof each gaming currency C, and the same content as this is indicated onthe side surface in a form of the indication information as the secondcurrency information.

The RFID reader 4221 reads out the first currency information from theRFID tag 4503 of the gaming currency C to output that to theidentification part 4230, the infrared-ray camera 4225 shoots the sidesurface of the gaming currency C, and the identification part 4230specifies the second currency information. In this case, in theidentification part 4230, the correspondence relationship between theplural pieces of the first currency information and the plural pieces ofthe second currency information is unknown.

The determination part 4231 compares the plural pieces of the firstcurrency information and the plural pieces of the second currencyinformation obtained by the identification part 4230, and if theycorrespond one by one completely, namely, if all of the first currencyinformation are equal to any one of the second currency informationwithout overlapping, determines the plural gaming currencies C housed inthe case as passed. The determination part 4231, if the plural piece ofthe first currency information and the plural pieces of the secondcurrency information obtained by the identification part 4230 are notcompletely equal to each other, determines the plural gaming currenciesC housed in the case 4100 as failed.

As a case that the plural piece of the first currency information andthe plural pieces of the second currency information obtained by theidentification part 4230 are not completely equal to each other, it isconsiderable that any one of the gaming currencies C housed in the case4100 is forged or that the RFID tag 4503 or the side surface of any oneof the gaming currencies C is damaged. That is, the determination part4231 determines the authenticity/damage of all of the gaming currenciesC existing in the case 4100, thereby determining the pass or fail of theplural gaming currencies C housed in the case 4100.

Also, in a second method of determining pass or fail, as shown in FIG.38, the first currency information and the second currency informationin the same gaming currency C are the same information. In an example ofFIG. 38, the first currency information is the value information of eachgaming currency C, and to each gaming currency C, the specific color isgiven as the second currency information to the specific coloring layer4501 on the side surface.

The RFID reader 4221 reads out the first currency information from theRFID tag 4503 of the gaming currency C to output that to theidentification part 4230, the visible-light camera 4226 shoots the sidesurface of the gaming currency C, and the identification part 4230analyzes the image to specify the second currency information (the colorof the specific coloring layer 4501).

In this case, in the identification part 4230, the correspondencerelationship between the plural pieces of the first currency informationand the plural pieces of the second currency information is unknown.Some of the plural pieces of the first currency information overlap eachother, and some of the plural pieces of the second currency informationoverlap each other. Also, in the first currency information and thesecond currency information of FIG. 38, “r” represents red, “b”represents blue, “y” represents yellow, and “g” represents green,respectively.

The determination part 4231 determines the gaming currencies C as passedif the number of the respective specific colors (red, blue, yellow, andgreen) in the plural pieces of the first currency information obtainedby the identification part 4230 is equal to the number of the respectivespecific colors (red, blue, yellow, and green) in the plural pieces ofthe second currency information, and determines that as failed if thenumbers are not equal to each other.

As a case that the number of the respective specific colors in the firstcurrency information is not equal to the number of the respectivespecific colors in the plural pieces of the second currency information,it is considerable that any one of the gaming currencies C housed in thecase 4100 is forged or that the side surface of any one of the gamingcurrencies C is damaged. That is, the determination part 4231 determinesa number for each value of all of the gaming currencies C existing inthe case 4100, thereby determining the pass or fail of the plural gamingcurrencies C housed in the case 4100.

In the third method of determining pass or fail, as shown in FIG. 39,the first currency information and the second currency information inthe same gaming currency C are different information. In an example ofFIG. 39, in the RFID tag 4503 of the gaming currency C, information ofEnglish character strings is stored as the first currency information,and on the side surface of the gaming currency C, the indicationinformation of number strings is indicated as the second currencyinformation.

The RFID reader 4221 reads out he first currency information from theRFID tag 4503 of the gaming currency C to output that to theidentification part 4230, the infrared-ray camera 4225 shoots the sidesurface of the gaming currency C, and the identification part 4230specifies the second currency information. In this case, in theidentification part 4230, the correspondence relationship between theplural pieces of the first currency information and the plural pieces ofthe second currency information is unknown.

In the use management device 4303, the first currency information andthe second currency information are stored in association with the caseidentification information of the case 4100. The determination part 4231compares the plural pieces of the first currency information obtained bythe identification part 4230 to the plural pieces of the first currencyinformation associated with the case identification information of thecase 4100 stored in the use management device 4303, and judges whetheror not they correspond one by one completely. Also, the determinationpart 4231 compares the plural pieces of the second currency informationobtained by the identification part 4230 to the plural pieces of thesecond currency information associated with the case identificationinformation of the case 4100 stored in the use management device 4303,and judges whether or not they correspond one by one completely.

The determination part 4231 determines the plural gaming currencies Choused in the case 4100 as passed if the plural pieces of the firstcurrency information obtained by the identification part 4230 correspondto the plural pieces of the first currency information associated withthe case identification information of the case 4100 stored in the usemanagement device 4303 one by one completely, namely the plural piecesof the first currency information obtained by the identification part4230 is equal to any one of the plural pieces of the first currencyinformation associated with the case identification information of thecase 4100 stored in the use management device 4303 without overlapping,and if the plural pieces of the second currency information obtained bythe identification part 4230 correspond to the plural pieces of thesecond currency information associated with the case identificationinformation of the case 4100 stored in the use management device 4303one by one completely, namely, the plural pieces of the second currencyinformation obtained by the identification part 4230 is equal to any oneof the plural pieces of the currency information associated with thecase identification information of the case 4100 stored in the usemanagement device 4303 without overlapping, and determines the pluralgaming currencies C housed in the case 4100 as failed if any one of theplural pieces of the first currency information is not equal to theinformation stored, or any one of the plural pieces of the secondcurrency information is not equal to the information stored.

As a case that any one of the plural pieces of the first currencyinformation is not equal to the information stored, or any one of theplural pieces of the second currency information is not equal to theinformation stored, it is considerable that any one of the gamingcurrencies C housed in the case 4100 is forged or that the RFID tag 4503or the side surface of any one of the gaming currencies C is damaged.That is, the determination part 4231 determines the authenticity/damageof all of the gaming currencies C existing in the case 4100, therebydetermining the pass or fail of the plural gaming currencies C housed inthe case 4100.

In the fourth method of determining pass or fail, as shown in FIG. 40,the first currency information and the second currency information inthe same gaming currency C are different information. In an example ofFIG. 40, in the RFID tag 4503 of the gaming currency C, information ofEnglish character strings is stored as the first currency information,and the specific coloring layer 4501 on the side surface of the gamingcurrency C is colored in the specific color corresponding to the valueas the second currency information.

The RFID reader 4221 reads out the first currency information from theRFID tag 4503 of the gaming currency C to output that to theidentification part 4230, the visible-light camera 4226 shoots the sidesurface of the gaming currency C to output that to the identificationpart 4230, and the identification part 4230 analyzes the shot image tospecify the specific color that is the second currency information. Inthis case, in the identification part 4230, the correspondencerelationship between the plural pieces of the first currency informationand the plural pieces of the second currency information is unknown.

In the use management device 4303, the first currency information andthe second currency information are stored in association with the caseidentification information of the case 4100. The determination part 4231compares the plural pieces of the first currency information obtained bythe identification part 4230 to the plural pieces of the first currencyinformation associated with the case identification information of thecase 4100 stored in the use management device 4303, and judges whetheror not they correspond one by one completely. Also, the determinationpart 4231 compares the number of the respective specific colors in theplural pieces of the second currency information obtained by theidentification part 4230 to the number of the respective specific colorsin the plural pieces of the second currency information associated withthe case identification information of the case 4100 stored in the usemanagement device 4303, and judges whether or not the numbers of therespective specific colors are equal to each other.

The determination part 4231 determines the case 4100 as passed, if theplural pieces of the first currency information obtained by theidentification part 4230 corresponds to the plural pieces of the firstcurrency information associated with the case identification informationof the case 4100 stored in the use management device 4303 one by onecompletely, and if the number of the respective specific colors in theplural pieces of the second currency information obtained by theidentification part 4230 is equal to the number of the respectivespecific colors in the plural pieces of the second currency informationassociated with the case identification information of the case 4100stored in the use management device 4303, and determines the pluralgaming currencies C housed in the case 4100 as failed if any one of theplural pieces of the first currency information is not equal to theinformation stored or the number of any one of the respective specificcolors in the plural pieces of the second currency information is notequal to the information stored.

As a case that any one of the plural pieces of the first currencyinformation is not equal to the information stored, or the number of anyone of the respective specific colors in the second currency informationis not equal to the information stored, it is considerable that any oneof the gaming currencies C housed in the case 4100 is forged or that theRFID tag 4503 or the side surface of any one of the gaming currencies Cis damaged. That is, the determination part 4231 determines theauthenticity/damage and a number for each value of all of the gamingcurrencies C existing in the case 4100, thereby determining the pass orfail of the plural gaming currencies C housed in the case 4100.

In the fifth method of determining pass or fail, as shown in FIG. 41,the first currency information and the second currency information inthe same gaming currency C are different information. In an example ofFIG. 41, in the RFID tag 4503 of the gaming currency C, individualidentification information made from number strings is stored as thefirst currency information, and to the side surface of the gamingcurrency C, the value information of the gaming currency C is given in aform of the specific color of the specific coloring layer 4501.

The RFID reader 4221 reads out the first currency information from theRFID tag 4503 of the gaming currency C to output that to theidentification part 4230, the visible-light camera 4226 shoots the sidesurface of the gaming currency C to output that to the identificationpart 4230, and the identification part 4230 analyzes the shot image tospecify the specific color that is the second currency information. Inthis case, in the identification part 4230, the correspondencerelationship between the plural pieces of the first currency informationand the plural pieces of the second currency information is unknown.

In the use management device 4303, the correspondence relationshipbetween the first currency information and the second currencyinformation is stored. In an example of FIG. 41, the individualidentification information which uniquely specifies the gaming currencyC and the specific color of the specific coloring layer 4501 on the sidesurface, namely the value information of the gaming currency C areassociated with each other, and when specifying the individualidentification information, the value of the gaming currency C can beknown. Note that, in this example, the use management device 4303 is notnecessary to store the combination of the first currency information andthe second currency information for each of case identificationinformation. In other words, in this example, the inspection of thegaming currencies C housed in the case 4100 can be performed withoutusing the case identification information.

The determination part 4231 specifies the first currency informationcorresponding to the first currency information which the identificationpart 4230 identifies from the first currency information stored in theuse management device 4303, and specifies the second currencyinformation associated with the first currency information, namely thevalue. The determination part 4231 performs this on all of the firstcurrency information identified by the identification part 4230, therebyobtaining the number of the respective values in the plural pieces ofthe second currency information extracted from the use management device4303 about one case.

The determination part 4231 compares the number of the respective valuesthus obtained to the number of the respective values in the secondcurrency information identified from the identification part 4230 aboutthe case 4100. The determination part 4231, if all of the number of therespective values are equal to the information stored, determines theplural gaming currencies C housed in the case 4100 as passed, and if thenumber of any of the values is not equal to the information stored,determines the plural gaming currencies C housed in the case 4100 asfailed.

As a case that the number of the respective values in the plural piecesof the second currency information extracted from the use managementdevice 4303 is not equal to the number of the respective values in thesecond currency information identified from the identification part 4230about the case 4100, it is considerable that any one of the gamingcurrencies C housed in the case 4100 is forged or that the RFID tag 4503or the side surface of any one of the gaming currencies C is damaged.That is, the determination part 4231 determines the authenticity/damageand a number for each value of all of the gaming currencies C existingin the case 4100, thereby determining the pass or fail of the pluralgaming currencies C housed in the case 4100.

Also, although an illustration is omitted, if the value of the gamingcurrency is stored as the first currency information and the individualidentification information of the gaming currency C is stored as thesecond currency information, it is possible to determine pass or fail inthe same way as above.

Although the first to fifth methods of determining pass or fail havebeen described above, the determination part 4231 may be adopted bycombining the above methods of determining pass or fail. Also, thedetermination part 4231, in addition to the methods of determining passor fail mentioned above, if the number of both of the first currencyinformation and the second currency information read out from the pluralgaming currencies C housed in the case 4100 are not a predeterminednumber (100 in the present embodiment), may determine the plural gamingcurrencies C housed in the case 4100 as failed.

The first and second methods of determining pass or fail mentioned aboveare methods of determining pass or fail which can be executed withoutusing information stored in the use management device 4303 installed inthe gaming house P, and are suitable for being executed by theinspection device 4200 in the factory F. Although the third to fifthmethods of determining pass or fail are methods of determining pass orfail which use information stored in the use management device 4303installed in the gaming house P, and are suitable for being executed bythe inspection device 4200 in the gaming house P, the inspection device4200 in the gaming house P may adopt the first or second method ofdetermining pass or fail. If all of the inspection devices 4200 in thegaming house P adopt a method of determining pass or fail which does notuse information stored in the use management device 4303 like as thefirst or second methods of determining pass or fail, the use managementdevice 4303 can be omitted.

Although the inspection device 4200 in the gaming house P also performsthe inspection of the case 4100 housing the gaming currencies C whichhave been used, in that case, it is possible to adopt the first, second,or fifth method of determining pass or fail in which it is unnecessaryto store the information of the gaming currencies that should be housedin the case.

Also, in the embodiment described above, the gaming currency C has theindividual identification information and/or the value information asthe first currency information and/or the second currency information.Here, the individual identification information is information whichuniquely specifies each gaming currency C, whereas the value informationis information which can overlap with each other in the plural gamingcurrencies C and can be also said as information (group information)indicating a group to which each gaming currency belongs. The presentembodiment, as the group information for the group to which each gamingcurrency belongs, instead of the value, or in addition to the value, mayadopt, for example, information on manufacturing time, manufacturer,and/or usage gaming house of the gaming currency.

That is, both of the first currency information and the second currencyinformation may include individual identification information whichidentifies the gaming currency, both of the first currency informationand the second currency information may include group informationindicating a group to which the gaming currency belongs, the firstcurrency information may include the individual identificationinformation which identifies the gaming currency and the second currencyinformation may include the group information of the group to which thegaming currency belongs, or the first currency information may includethe group information of the group to which the gaming currency belongsand the second currency information may include the individualidentification information which identifies the gaming currency.

FIG. 42 and FIG. 43 are diagrams showing examples of pass or fail resultdisplay screens displaying the result of the pass or fail determinationin the determination part 4231. These pass or fail result displayscreens are generated by the computer 4222 based on the result of thepass or fail determination in the determination part 4231, and aredisplayed by the display part 4223. FIG. 42 shows an example of thedisplay screen in case of pass, and FIG. 43 displays an example of thedisplay screen in case of fail.

As shown in FIG. 42 and FIG. 43, a good/bad results display screen 4800includes a total detection number 4801 which is the number of thecombination of the first currency information and the second currencyinformation which the identification part 4230 reads out from the gamingcurrencies C, the number of correct gaming currencies C 4802, and thenumber of unfair gaming currencies C 4803.

The computer 4222 sets the larger one of the numbers of pieces of thefirst currency information and the second currency information as thetotal detection number 4801. For example, although 100 of the gamingcurrencies are housed in the case 4100, if the RFID tag 4503 is notbuilt in one of them, the identification part 4230 specifies 100 piecesof the second currency information from the plural gaming currencies C,but can obtain only 99 pieces of the first currency information. In thiscase, the computer 4222 sets 100 which is the larger one of pieces ofthe first currency information and the second currency information asthe total detection number 4801.

The computer 4222, in the case of the first or second method ofdetermining pass or fail, sets the number of the combination of thefirst currency information and the second currency information that aredetermined as equal to each other as the number of the correct gamingcurrencies C 4802, and sets a number obtained by subtracting the numberof the correct gaming currencies C from the total detection number 4801as the number of the unfair gaming currencies C 4803.

The computer 4222, in the case of the third or fourth method ofdetermining pass or fail, sets the smaller one of the numbers of piecesof the first currency information for which the correspondencerelationship with the first currency information stored in the usemanagement device 4303 is confirmed, and of the second currencyinformation for which the correspondence relationship with the secondcurrency information stored in the use management device 4304 isconfirmed, as the number of the correct gaming currencies C 4802, andsets the number obtained by subtracting the number of the correct gamingcurrencies C from the total detection number 4801 as the number of theunfair gaming currencies C 4803.

The computer 4222, in the case of the fifth method of determining passor fail, sets the number of pieces of the second currency informationfor which the correspondence relationship with the second currencyinformation stored in the use management device 4303 as the number ofthe correct gaming currencies C 4802, and sets the number obtained bysubtracting the number of the correct gaming currencies C from the totaldetection number 4801 as the number of the unfair gaming currencies C4803.

The good/bad results display screen 4800 includes the currencyinformation display part 4804 displaying the currency information whichthe identification part 4230 reads out from the gaming currencies C. Inthe currency information display part 4804, if the currency informationstored in the use management device 4303 is read out, or if the firstcurrency information is equal to the second currency information, thecurrency information is displayed in color, and the currency informationwhich is stored in the use management device 4303 but is not read out isdisplayed in white (refer to FIGS. 43).

Also, in the good/bad results display screen 4800, if the currencyinformation which is not stored in the use management device 4303 isread out, or if the first currency information is not equal to thesecond currency information, the currency information is displayedoutside the currency information display part 4804 as unfair currencyinformation 4805.

FIG. 44 is a diagram indicating a modification of an RFID antenna 4224of an inspection device 4200. Note that illustrations of an arm 4227,infrared-ray camera 4225, and a visible-light camera 4226 are omitted.In the above embodiments, although the RFID antenna 4224 is built inright and left side walls 4211, the RFID antenna 4224 may be built in abottom part 4213. Also in this case, the RFID antenna 4224 is placedinside the bottom part 4213 in a spiral manner.

FIG. 45 is a side view showing a gaming currency C′ in a modification.Although in the gaming currency C in the above embodiments, the specificcoloring layer 4501 is sandwiched by the common coloring layers 4502, inan example of FIG. 45, the gaming currency C′ is comprised of the commoncoloring layers 4502 at the center and the specific coloring layers 4501at both sides thereof (upper and lower). In an example of FIG. 45,individual identification information represented by seven-digits numberstrings is written (printed) as code information 4505′ at the sidesurface of the gaming currency C′. In an example of FIG. 45, the codeinformation 4505′ being written information is written in a centralcommon coloring layer 502. The code information 4505′ in this case canrepresent seven kinds of article information among ten kinds of articleinformation.

Further, both of the code information 4505 represented by whether thereis indication m that is described for the currency for gaming currency Cin the above embodiment, and the code information 4505′ in the numberstrings that is illustrated in FIG. 45 may be written at the sidesurface of the gaming currency C. In this case, the code information4505 with the indication m and the code information 4505′ in the numberstrings may be printed with different inks. For example, the codeinformation 4505 with the indication m may be printed with infrared-rayresponsive inks, and the code information 4505′ in the number stringsmay be printed with ultraviolet-ray responsive inks. In this case, theinfrared-ray camera and the ultraviolet-ray camera are prepared in orderto shoot the side surface of the gaming currency C, the code information4505 with the indication m may be read using the infrared-ray camera,and the code information 4505′ in the number strings may be read usingthe ultraviolet-ray camera.

FIG. 46 is a side sectional view of the gaming currency C″ in anothermodification. The gaming currency C″ comprises a multi-layer structurewhere different plastic layers with plural colors are stacked, at leastspecific coloring layer (colored layer) 4501 is provided at the middle,and common coloring layers (white color or lighter-color layers) 4502are stacked at both sides of the middle specific coloring layer 4501.Note that it is preferable for colors of the common coloring layers 4502to be thinner than color of the specific coloring layer 4501. As such,in the gaming currency C″, the multi-layer structure where the specificcoloring layer 4501 is provided at the middle, and the common coloringlayers 4502 are stacked at both sides of the middle specific coloringlayer 4501 can identify a kind of the gaming currency C″ (10 points, 20points, 100 points, 1000 points, and the like) by forming a stripedpattern in a stacking direction at the side surface, and changing thecolor of the specific coloring layer 4501 (red, green, yellow, blue andthe like).

FIG. 47 is a perspective view of the stacked gaming currencies C″, FIG.48 is a side view of the gaming currency C″, and FIG. 49 is a plan viewof the gaming currency C″. As shown in FIG. 47, in the gaming currenciesC″, a printing 4507 (e.g. 100 points) representing a kind (value) of thegaming currency C″ is made at surfaces of the common coloring layers4502 (top surface and lower surface), a transparent layer 4504 isprovided at the most outer layer, and at least five-layer structure ismade with thermal compression between layers. These gaming currencies C″is formed by using long and thin elongated plastic materials, forming astate (e.g. five-layer structure) thermal compressed and attachedbetween the layers (specific coloring layer 4501, common coloring layer4502, and transparent layer 4504), and then punching them into acircular form, rectangular form, or the like with press etc. Whenpunching by pressing, R machining (a rounded corner) is applied at anedge of the most outer transparent layer 4504 by designing thedimensions of die and punch for a mold for punching.

Further, in the gaming currency C″, the indication m″ is provided withUV inks or carbon black inks at the surface of the common coloring layer4502. The indication m″ represents the authenticity of the gamingcurrency C″, becomes visible by radiation of ultraviolet-ray light (orinfrared-ray light), and represents correct one with the combination ofthe shape and number. Although the most outer layer is thermalcompressed or coated (applied) with the transparent layer 4504 to coverthe printing 4507 and indication m′, embossing is made on thetransparent layer 4504 to avoid adhesion of the gaming currencies C″each other.

The R machining (R) is performed at the edge of the most outertransparent layer 4504 where the printing 4507 (e.g. 100 points) is madeto avoid that the surface of the common coloring layers 4502 is deformto appear in the side surface in the punching process. Also, a sharpedge of the gaming currency C″ is prevented from damaging a remaininghand and other gaming currencies C″.

The specific coloring layer 4501 may be formed with plural layers (threelayers in FIG. 46) colored by a specific color as shown in FIG. 46.Since the plural layers colored by the specific color are thermalcompressed each other, the three-layer structure is not visible as shownin FIG. 46, and FIG. 26 represents three layers of the specific coloringlayers 4501 for description. Further, the hollowing B is partiallyprovided in the middle layer of the three layers of the specificcoloring layers 4501, and the RFID tag 4503 is built therein.

As shown in FIG. 26, FIG. 45, and FIG. 46, the gaming currencies C, C′and C″ include a stacked multi-layer structure, form clear stripedpattern at the side surface in the stacking direction, and allow easyand accurate measurement of colors (kind of the gaming currency) andnumbers with image analysis, comparing to the conventional chip. FIG. 50is a diagram indicating an example of an image obtained by shooting thestacked gaming currencies. As shown in FIG. 50, the specific coloringlayer 4501 can be clearly identified by shooting the side surface of thegaming currency C with the visible-light camera 4226. Further, theimages can be analyzed and determined more accurately by using acomputer or controlling system utilizing an artificial intelligenttechnique, and a deep learning (structure) technique in the imageanalysis. Since the computer or controlling system utilizing theartificial intelligent technique, and the deep learning (structure)technique are known and available for one skilled in the art, thedetailed description is omitted.

As stated above, the case 4100 is stamped with a stamp after housing apredetermined number of the gaming currencies C. The stamp is broken ifit is opened so as to take out the gaming currencies housed. Thedetection device 4200 may comprise a detection part for detecting theunbroken stamp attached to the case 4100. The detection part may detectthe stamp optically or magnetically. In this case, the determinationpart 4231 determines that the plural gaming currencies C housed in thecase 4100 are failed if the unbroken stamp is not detected by thedetection part.

In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 30, all components of theinspection device 4200 are arranged in one device, they may be arrangedin a distribution manner. For example, some or all of the computer 4222,the display part 4223, and the communication part 4224 may beimplemented by a personal computer connected to the inspection device4200. The components arranged in the distribution manner may becommunicatively connected with wired or wireless manner, and may beconnected via a network such as the Internet.

Further, as shown in FIG. 51 and FIG. 52, the infrared-ray camera 4225and/or visible-light camera 4226, and the arm 4227 may be connected tothe computer 4222 separately from the inspection device 4200. FIG. 51shows an example in which either of the infrared-ray camera 4225 or thevisible-light camera 4226 is provided separately from the inspectiondevice 4200, and FIG. 52 shows an example in which the infrared-raycamera 4225 is provided separately from the inspection device 4200 andthe visible-light camera 4225 is provided integrally with the inspectiondevice 4200. Note that an ultraviolet-ray camera may be provided as athird camera with an ultraviolet-ray lamp in addition to theinfrared-ray camera 4225 and the visible-light camera 4226, and anycameras in FIG. 51 and FIG. 52 may be the ultraviolet-ray camera withthe ultraviolet-ray lamp.

In the above embodiment, the gaming currency C includes the currencyinformation stored in the RFID tag 4503, and the code information 4505as currency information written at the side surface. Also, although thespecific color of the specific coloring layers 4501 at the side surfaceare considered as the currency information indicating values of thegaming currency C, and one gaming currency C has these three types ofthe currency information, the present embodiment is not limited to theabove, and the gaming currency C may have only two types of the currencyinformation among them. As long as the gaming currency C has two typesof the currency information, the first to fifth pass or faildetermination methods can be performed.

Also, although the first to fifth pass or fail determination methods usetwo types of the currency information, the determination part 4231 mayperform the pass or fail determination using the three types of thecurrency information if the gaming currency C has the three types of thecurrency information.

Although the above embodiment describes an example in which the displaypart 4223 is configured with the liquid crystal panel, the display part4223 may be a lamp indicating the pass or fail only, or a lampdisplaying digitally the total detection number 4801, the number ofcorrect gaming currencies C 4802, and the number of unfair gamingcurrencies C 4803 only.

The determination part 4231 in the above embodiment can identify thenumber of respective values of the plural gaming currencies C housed inthe case 4100. Here, the determination part 4231 further may calculatethe total amount of values of the plural gaming currencies C housed inthe case 4100 based on the number of the respective values. Thecalculated total amount may be displayed on a good/bad results displayscreen (reference to FIG. 42 and FIG. 43) displayed in the display part4233.

A fifth embodiment relates to an inspection system and an inspectiondevice for inspecting a gaming currency, more specifically, relates tothe inspection system and the inspection device for inspecting thegaming currency including a built-in radio tag or counting the number ofthe gaming currencies.

The gaming currency including the built-in radio tag for storingidentification information and kind information is known (e.g. JapanesePatent Laid-Open No. 2008-246103). Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.2008-246103 discloses the gaming currency having a configuration foravoiding the radio tag from being brought out easily. This implements aconfiguration in which fault in the radio tag hardly occurs.

However, in the case of reading the number of the gaming currencies withthe radio tag disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-246103,the number of the gaming currencies is calculated based on the readradio tag information, and if the radio tag built in the gaming currencyis broken or the radio tag is not built in the gaming currency, there isa problem in which the currency information cannot be obtained, and theactual number of the gaming currencies and the number of the gamingcurrencies calculated by reading the radio tag are different.

The present embodiment has the objective for providing an inspectionsystem and an inspection device for allowing to inform that the radiotag is destroyed.

The inspection system in a first aspect of the fifth embodiment is aninspection system for inspecting gaming currencies including a built-inradio tag for storing currency information and having colors orrepresentations representing values at an outer surface, the gamingcurrencies being housed in a case at a condition on which the maximumhousing number is limited, wherein the gaming currencies are housed inthe case capable of housing the gaming currencies stacked in a thicknessdirection and in a column, the inspection system comprising: a readingdevice for reading the radio tag of the gaming currency in the case andobtaining the currency information of the gaming currency; and adetermination part for comparing the currency information obtained bythe reading device to a maximum housing number of the case itself, anddetermining the gaming currency in the case as abnormal when the numberof the gaming currencies obtained from the currency information that isobtained by the reading device is different from the maximum housingnumber.

The determination part has functions of comparing a physical feature ofthe case itself or physical information of the gaming currenciesobtained by a physical measurement means other than the reading deviceto the number of pieces of the physical information of the gamingcurrency obtained from the currency information that is obtained by thereading device, and determining and outputting, if they are not matched,that there is any abnormal gaming currency of the gaming currencieshoused in the case.

Further, the physical information is an optically-obtained number orheight, or a measured and obtained weight.

Further, the inspection system has further an information database ofthe radio tag that information of the radio tag built in the gamingcurrency can be referred, and the determination part may have aconfiguration of checking the currency information of the gamingcurrency read by the reading device with the information database of theradio tag and capable of detecting the gaming currency to be inspectedas abnormal.

Further, the determination part may have functions of, if determiningthat there is any abnormal gaming currency of the gaming currencies inthe case, comparing the information of the radio tags of all gamingcurrencies in the case to the pre-recorded information database of theradio tag, and identifying that there is the abnormal radio tag notpresent in the information database of the radio tag.

Further, the determination part may have functions of, if determiningthat there is any abnormal gaming currency of the gaming currencies inthe case, identifying that in any gaming currencies in the case, thereis the abnormal gaming currency for which the information cannot beobtained from the radio tag.

Further, the determination part may have functions of analyzing theinformation of the radio tag obtained by the reading device, and sendinga signal when there are in the case two or more gaming currencies forwhich the information obtained from the radio tags is the same.

Further, the information database of the radio tag is an informationdatabase of the radio tag of gaming currencies stored and used in agaming house, and the determination part may have functions of analyzingthe information of the radio tag obtained by the reading device andsending a signal when the information obtained from the radio tag is thesame as the information of the radio tag for the gaming currency that ispresent in other places in the gaming house.

The inspection device in a second aspect of the fifth embodiment is aninspection device for inspecting gaming currencies including a built-inradio tag for storing currency information and having colors orrepresentations representing values at an outer surface, the inspectiondevice comprising: an inspection table on which the gaming currenciesstacked in a thickness direction and in a column can be inspected at acondition on which the maximum stacking number is limited; a readingdevice for reading the radio tags of the gaming currencies in the columnand obtaining the currency information of the gaming currencies in thecolumn; and a determination part for comparing the currency informationobtained by the reading device to a maximum stacking number of theinspection table itself and determining an abnormal gaming currencypresent on the inspection table when the number of the gaming currenciesobtained from the currency information that is obtained by the readingdevice is different from the maximum stacking number.

Further, the determination part may have functions of determining andoutputting that there is any abnormal gaming currency of the gamingcurrencies present on the inspection table when the currency informationof the gaming currency obtained by the reading device is different fromthe physical information of the gaming currency.

Further, the physical information may be an optically-obtained number orheight, or a measured and obtained weight.

Further, the inspection device further includes an information databaseof the radio tag that information of the radio tag built in the gamingcurrency can be referred, and the determination part may have aconfiguration of capable of checking the currency information of thegaming currency read by the reading device with the information databaseof the radio tag and detecting the gaming currency to be inspected onthe inspection table as abnormal.

Further, the determination part may have functions of, if determiningthat there is any abnormal gaming currency of the gaming currencies onthe inspection table, comparing the information of the radio tags of allgaming currencies on the inspection table to the pre-recordedinformation database of the radio tag, and identifying that there is theabnormal gaming currency not present in the information database of theradio tag.

Further, the determination part may have functions of, if determiningthat there is any abnormal gaming currency of the gaming currencies inthe case, identifying that in any gaming currencies in the case, thereis the abnormal gaming currency for which the information cannot beobtained from the radio tag.

Further, the determination part may have functions of analyzing theinformation of the radio tag obtained by the reading device and sendinga signal when there are in the case two or more gaming currencies forwhich the information obtained from the radio tags is the same.

Further, the information database of the radio tag is an informationdatabase of the radio tag of gaming currencies stored and used in agaming house, and the determination part may have functions of analyzingthe information of the radio tag obtained by the reading device andsending a signal when the information obtained from the radio tag is thesame as the information of the radio tag for the gaming currency that ispresent in other places in the gaming house.

According to the present embodiment, the determination of the number ofthe gaming currencies housed in one with the fixed housing number ismade, allowing the inspection as to inform that the radio tag isdestroyed.

Hereinafter, referring to the drawings, the fifth embodiment isdescribed.

FIG. 53 is a diagram indicating a configuration of the inspection systemin the fifth embodiment. The inspection system 51 is comprised of a case5100 for housing stacked gaming currencies and an inspection device 200for inspecting the plural gaming currencies stacked and housed in thecase 5100 at a condition of being housed in the case 5100.

The case 5100 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape and ismade of a transparent resin. In the case 5100, disc-shaped gamingcurrencies are housed while being stacked. In the case 5100, fivecolumns 5100C, each for housing twenty numbers of gaming currencies C,are formed and 100 gaming currencies C in total can be housed. The case5100 can be carried (portable) while housing the gaming currencies C.The case 5100 is composed of a top part 5101 and a lower part 5102 whichare separable, and by separating the top part 5101 and the lower part5102, it becomes possible to house the gaming currencies C in the case5100 and take out the gaming currencies C from the case 5100.

The inspection device 5200 is composed of a receiving part 5210 and amain body part 5220. The inspection device 5200 can receive the case5100 with the receiving part 5210. The receiving part 5210 has arectangular shape where an approximate top surface and a front surfaceare opened as a whole, is formed of right and left side walls 5211, abottom part 5212 and a deep wall 5213, and has a width, a height and adepth in which the case 5100 is just fitted.

The main body part 5220 is provided at a back side of the deep wall 5213of the receiving part 5210, and comprises the reading device 5221, thedetermination part 5222 and the display part 5223.

The reading device 5221 and the display part 5223 are connected to thedetermination part 5222. A radio tag antenna 5224 is connected to thereading device 5221. The radio tag antenna 5224 extends from the readingdevice 5221 and spirally extends in the right and left side walls 5211.That is, in the inside of each of the right and left side walls 5211,the spiral radio tag antenna 5224 is laid, and each radio tag antenna5224 is connected to the reading device 5221.

The display part 5223 is configured by a liquid crystal panel. Note thatthe liquid crystal panel may be provided with a touch sensor, and thedisplay part 5223 may be configured as a touch panel.

FIG. 54 is a block diagram indicating a configuration of the inspectiondevice 5200. The inspection device 5200 comprises the reading device5221, the determination part 5222, the display part 5223, and the radiotag antenna 5224 shown in FIG. 53, as well as a barcode reader 5228 anda communication part 5229. Also, the determination part 5222 isconfigured with a processor, a memory, and the like which are not shown,and the processor executes an inspection program to configure anidentification part 5230 and an identification contents determinationpart 5231.

A radio tag system is configured with the reading device 5221, the radiotag antenna 5224, and the radio tag 5503 embedded in the gaming currencyC. The currency information of the gaming currency C stored in the radiotag 5503 that is embedded in the gaming currency C is read by thereading device 5221 without contacting, and used for processing in thedetermination part 5222.

The barcode reader 5228 reads the barcode BC added to the case 5100 toobtain case identification information. The display part 5223 displaysthe determined result of the identification contents determination part5231 in the determination part 222. The communication part 5229communicates data between a manufacture management device 5302 installedin a factory F and an information database 5303 installed in a gaminghouse P.

FIG. 55 is a perspective view of the case 5100. The case 5100 is formedby joining the top part 5101 and the lower part 5102. In the presentembodiment, the top part 5101 and the lower part 5102 are made of atransparent resin. Note that in the present embodiment, the case 5100has a sealed structure composed of the top part 5101 and the lower part5102, a light transmission part may be in a perforated state.

The case 5100 has a shape where five columns 5100C are formedparallelly, each housing twenty numbers of stacked gaming currencies C,as stated above, and a cross section of each column has polygon shape(octagon shape) so that the top part 5101 and the lower part 5102approximately conform the shape of the housed gaming currencies C in anexample of FIG. 59. Each column 5100C has a shape where twenty or morenumbers of gaming currencies C cannot be housed.

FIG. 56 is a perspective view of a case 5100′ of a modification, andFIG. 57 is a plan view of the case 5100′. The case 5100′ is alsocomprised of a top part 5101′ and a lower part 5102 which are made of atransparent resin. In the present modification, an upper surface of thetop part 5101′ facing the camera is formed by a plane. Thus, by makingthe surface facing the camera plane, linear shadows due to corners ofthe polygonal cross section of the case 5100′ does not appear on thecamera, and information of the side surface of the gaming currency C canbe accurately identified, in an image analysis with respect to ashooting image of the camera.

FIG. 58 is a side sectional view of the gaming currency C in the presentembodiment. The gaming currency C includes a multi-layer structure wheredifferent plastic layers with plural colors are stacked, at leastspecific coloring layer (colored layer) 5501 is provided at the middle,and common coloring layers (white color or lighter-color layers) 5502are stacked at both sides of the middle specific coloring layer 5501.

The specific coloring layer 5501 may be formed with plural layers (threelayers in FIG. 58) colored with a specific color as shown in FIG. 58.Since the plural layers (three layers in FIG. 58) colored with thespecific color are thermal compressed each other, the three-layerstructure is not visible as shown in FIG. 58, and FIG. 58 shows threelayers of the specific coloring layer 5501 for description. Further, thehollowing B is partially provided in the middle layer of the threelayers of the specific coloring layers 5501, and the radio tag 5503 isbuilt therein.

The inspection system 51 includes the built-in radio tag 5503 forstoring the currency information, and inspects the gaming currencies Chaving colors 5501 or representations 5507 representing values at theouter surfaces at a condition of being housed in the case 5100 on whichthe maximum housing number is limited. The gaming currencies are housedin the case 5100 capable of housing the gaming currencies stacked in athickness direction and in a column, and the inspection system 51comprises a reading device for reading the radio tag 5503 of the gamingcurrency C in the case 5100 and obtaining the currency information ofthe gaming currency C, and a determination part 222 for comparing thecurrency information obtained by the reading device 5221 to the maximumhousing number of the case 5100 itself (set up to one hundred numbers inthe present example) and determining the gaming currency C in the case5100 as abnormal when the number of the gaming currencies C obtainedfrom the currency information that is obtained by the reading device5221 is different from the maximum housing number (one hundred numbers).

The inspection system 51 has further an information database 5303 of theradio tag 5503 that information of the radio tag 5503 built in thegaming currency C can be referred, and the determination part 5222 has aconfiguration of checking the currency information of the gamingcurrency C read by the reading device 5221 with the information database5303 of the radio tag 5503 and capable of detecting the gaming currencyC to be inspected as abnormal. The information database 5303 pre-storesthe information of all radio tags 5503 of the gaming currencies used ina gaming house.

The determination part 5222 has functions of, if determining there isany abnormal gaming currency C of the gaming currencies C in the case5100, comparing the information of the radio tag 5503 of all gamingcurrencies C in the case 5100 to the pre-recorded information database5303 of the radio tag 5503, and identifying the abnormal radio tag 5503not present in the information database of the radio tag 5503.

The determination part 5222 have functions of, if determining there isany abnormal gaming currency C of the gaming currencies C in the case5100, identifying that in any gaming currencies C in the case 5100,there is the abnormal gaming currency C for which the information cannotbe obtained from the radio tag 5503.

The display part 5223 displays the abnormality if it is determined thatthere is the abnormal gaming currency C as stated above.

As shown in FIG. 60 and FIG. 61, a good/bad results display screen 5800include a total detection number 5801 and a number 5803 of unfair gamingcurrencies C, the total detection number 5801 is the number of pieces ofthe information of the radio tags 5503 read by the identification part5230 from the gaming currencies C.

FIG. 60 and FIG. 61 is a view showing an example of the good/bad resultsdisplay screen indicating the abnormal determination result of thegaming currencies in the identification contents determination part5231. The good/bad results display screen is generated by thedetermination part 5222 based on the abnormal determination result ofthe gaming currencies in the identification contents determination part5231, and displayed on the display part 5223. FIG. 60 shows an exampleof the display screen in the case of being passed, and FIG. 61 shows anexample of the display screen in the case of being failed.

FIG. 62 is a diagram showing the inspection device 5400 in anothermodification. The inspection device 5400 inspects the gaming currenciesC including the built-in radio tag 5503 for storing the currencyinformation, and having colors 5501 or representations 5507 representingvalues at the outer surfaces. The inspection device 5400 comprises aninspection table 5427 that can inspect the gaming currencies C stackedin a thickness direction and in a column at a condition on which amaximum stacking number is limited, a reading device 5421 for readingthe radio tags 5531 of the gaming currencies C in the column andobtaining the currency information of the gaming currencies C in thecolumn, and a determination part 5422 for comparing the currencyinformation obtained by the reading device 5421 to the maximum stackingnumber (set up to twenty numbers in the present example) of theinspection table 5427 itself and determining an abnormal gaming currencyC present on the inspection table 5427 when the number of the gamingcurrencies C obtained from the currency information that is obtained bythe reading device 5421 is different from the maximum stacking number(twenty numbers).

The inspection device 5400 comprises a number control plate 5425 forlimiting the maximum stacking number of the gaming currencies C in thecolumn.

The inspection device 5400 has an optical sensor 5426, and determinesthe physical number of individual gaming currencies C. The determinationpart 5422 has functions of determining and outputting that there is anyabnormal gaming currency C of the gaming currencies C present on theinspection table 5427 when the currency information of the gamingcurrency obtained by the reading device 5421 does not match with thephysical information of the gaming currency C.

FIG. 63 is a diagram for explaining an example of a usage aspect of theinspection system 1 together with the distribution of the gamingcurrencies C. The gaming currencies C are manufactured by amanufacturing device 5301 in a factory F (s1), and respective 100currencies are housed in the case 5100 (s2). The case 5100 is stampedwith a stamp seal in the factory F after housing the gaming currenciesC. Also, in the case 5100, the barcode BC indicating the caseidentification information for uniquely specifying the case 5100 isaffixed to the side surface (s3).

At that time, in the manufacture management device 5302 in the factoryF, the case identification information of the barcode BC affixed to thecase 5100 is input (s4). Also, the case 5100 housing the gamingcurrencies C is subjected to the inspection device 5200 to read currencyinformation (the details will be described below) given to the gamingcurrencies C, and the inspection of pass or fail is performed. Then, thecurrency information read from the gaming currencies C housed in thecase 5100 is sent to the manufacture management device 5302 (s5), andassociated with the case identification information by the manufacturemanagement device 5302. Note that the manufacture management device 5302may be a personal computer.

The case 5100 which has been passed in the inspection device 5200 in theFactory F is transported from the factory F to the gaming house P (s6).The case 5100 is firstly stored in a repository R in the gaming house P(s7). The inspection device 5200 is installed in the repository R, andthe case 5100 delivered from the factory F is inspected by theinspection device 5200.

On the other hand, the case identification information and the currencyinformation associated therewith are sent from the manufacturemanagement device 5302 in the factory F to the information database 5303in the gaming house P. The information database 5303 comprises a storagepart which obtains the case identification information and the currencyinformation associated with that from the manufacture management device5302, for each of the plural cases 5100 housing the gaming currencies C,and stores them for each case 5100. Note that the information database5303 may be a personal computer.

In the inspection by the inspection device 5200 in the repository R, theinspection is performed using the information stored in the informationdatabase 5303. The case 5100 which has been passed in the inspection inthe repository R is carried to a game table T (s9), or is carried to acashier CA (s10). The game table T and the cashier CA also comprise theinspection device 5200 respectively, and the case 5100 housing thegaming currencies C is inspected by the inspection device 5200 whilebeing stamped. In the game table T and the cashier CA, the inspection ofthe case 5100 housing the gaming currencies C which have been used isalso performed, and the inspection devices 5200 are used for theinspection. In the inspection by three inspection devices 5200 in thegaming house P, the case identification information and the currencyinformation associated therewith sent from the manufacture managementdevice 5302 and stored in the information database 5303 are referred to.

Also, in the above embodiment, the gaming currency C has theidentification information and/or the value information as radio taginformation. Here, the identification information is information whichuniquely specifies each gaming currency C, whereas the value informationis information which can overlap with each other in the plural gamingcurrencies C, and can be also said as information (group information)indicating a group to which each gaming currency belongs. The presentembodiment, as the group information for the group to which each gamingcurrency belongs, instead of the value, or in addition to the value, mayadopt, for example, information on manufacturing time, manufacturer,and/or usage gaming house of the gaming currency.

That is, the radio tag information may include the identificationinformation for identifying the gaming currency, and the groupinformation indicating the group to which each gaming currency belongs.

As stated above, the case 5100 is stamped with the stamp seal afterhousing a predetermined number of the gaming currencies C. The stamp isbroken if it is opened so as to take out the gaming currencies housed.The detection device 5200 may comprise a detection part for detectingthe unbroken stamp attached to the case 5100. The detection part maydetect the stamp optically or magnetically. In this case, theidentification contents determination part 5231 determines that theplural gaming currencies C housed in the case 5100 are failed if theunbroken stamp is not detected by the detection part.

In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 542, all components of theinspection device 5200 are arranged in one device, they may be arrangedin a distribution manner. For example, some or all of the determinationpart 5222, the display part 5223, and the communication part 5224 may beimplemented by a personal computer connected to the inspection device5200.

The components arranged in the distribution manner may becommunicatively connected with wired or wireless manner, and may beconnected via a network such as the Internet.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, such an example is explained that thedisplay part 5223 is constituted by a liquid display panel. The displaypart 5223 may be a lamp for simply displaying only pass/fail results,and may be a lamp for digitally displaying only the total detectionnumber 5801, the number 5802 of correct gaming currencies C, and thenumber 5803 of unfair gaming currencies C.

The identification contents determination part 5231 in theabove-mentioned embodiment can specify the number of the respectivevalues of the plural gaming currencies C housed in the case 5100, asdescribed above. Furthermore, the identification contents determinationpart 5231 may calculate a total amount of the values of the pluralgaming currencies C housed in the case 5100 based on the number of therespective values. The calculated total amount may be displayed on apass/fail results display screen displayed at the display part 5233 (seeFIGS. 60 and 61).

As described above, conventionally, an inspection system for inspectingauthenticity of the gaming currency by embedding an RF tag (radio tag)inside the gaming currency is known. Such an inspection system isconfigured to record detection in a recording device, or issue alarms byan alarm device, when the gaming currency (typically, a forged gamingcurrency, or a gaming currency whose RF tag is broken, hereinafterreferred to as “unfair gaming currency”) whose RF tag cannot be read, orwhose information read from the RF tag is not predetermined information,is detected.

However, the gaming currencies are circulated between dealers (casino)and players. It is inconvenient that it is unknown when and from whichplayer the unfair gaming currency is delivered to the casino, when thecasino inspects the holding gaming currencies and finds the unfairgaming currency.

Therefore, in this embodiment, an inspection system that can detect theunfair currency, immediately when or as soonest as the unfair currencyis delivered from the player to the dealer, is provided.

Thus, an inspection system according to one aspect of the presentembodiment is an inspection system for inspecting a gaming currency inwhich an RF tag is built, comprising: a housing means for housing gamingcurrencies of a dealer in a casino game; an RF reading means for readingthe RF tags of the plural gaming currencies housed in the housing means;a detection means for detecting at least the number of the plural gamingcurrencies housed in the housing means by a method other than an RFID atconstant time intervals or always; and an alarm means for generating analarm when the number of the gaming currencies whose RF tags are read bythe RF reading means is not equal to the number of the gaming currenciesdetected by the detection means.

By this configuration, the RF reading means detects the number of thegaming currencies housed in the housing means, and the detection meansdetects the number of the gaming currencies housed in the housing meansby a method other than the RFID at constant time intervals or always.When the numbers are not equal to each other, the alarm means generatesthe alarms. Therefore, immediately when the unfair gaming currencies arehoused in the housing means, or within a constant time from when theunfair gaming currencies are housed in the housing means, the alarmmeans can generate the alarms. Also, the RF reading means may read theRF tag at constant time intervals or always.

The detection means may detect whether or not the number of the gamingcurrencies housed in the housing means is changed. The alarm means maycompare the number of the gaming currencies detected by the detectionmeans to the number of the gaming currencies whose RF tags are read bythe RF reading means, and determine whether the numbers are equal toeach other, when the change of the number of the gaming currencies isdetected by the detection means.

When the dealer collects the gaming currencies from players in a casinogame, the housing means may be used to house the collected gamingcurrencies. By this configuration, when the dealer collects the gamingcurrencies from the players, the unfair currencies can be detected.

The detection means may detect existence of each of the plural gamingcurrencies housed in the housing means by a method other than the RFID.

The housing means may be configured to stack and house the plural gamingcurrencies in a predetermined stacking direction, and the detectionmeans may have plural photosensors arranged in the stacking direction todetect each of the plural gaming currencies stacked and housed in thehousing means.

The housing means may have a groove extending in the stacking direction,the plural photosensors may be arranged in plural lines along thestacking direction, and the gaming currencies may be detected by thephotosensors arranged in different lines in an order of stacking.

The housing means may have plural lines of grooves extending in thestacking direction, and the RF reading means may read the RF tags forone or plural lines of the grooves.

The detection means may include plural photosensors for detecting eachof the plural gaming currencies housed in the housing means.

The detection means may detect the number of the plural gamingcurrencies housed in the housing means by optically reading the pluralgaming currencies housed in the housing means. Such detection means maybe, for example, an optical scanner for scanning the stacked gamingcurrencies in a stacking direction.

The housing means may house the plural gaming currencies such that theplural gaming currencies are stacked from a predetermined referenceposition, and the detection means may detect the number of the pluralgaming currencies housed in the housing means by measuring a distancefrom a predetermined monitoring position to a gaming currency of thegaming currencies, the gaming currency being furthest away from thepredetermined reference position.

By this configuration, the number of the plural gaming currenciesstacked in the housing means may be detected according to the height(length) in the stacking direction of the plural gaming currenciesstacked in the housing means. Such detection means may be, for example,a distance sensor that is installed at a tip in the stacking direction,and measures a distance from a reference position to the furthest awaygaming currency.

The RF reading means may read RF tags at a first time interval, suchthat the RF tags of plural gaming currencies are read within the firsttime interval from when other gaming currencies are housed in thehousing means, the plural gaming currencies including the other gamingcurrencies, and the detection means may detect the number of the pluralgaming currencies housed in the housing means at a second time interval,such that the number of the plural gaming currencies are detected withinthe second time interval from when the other gaming currencies arehoused in the housing means, the plural gaming currencies including theother gaming currencies.

By this configuration, when new gaming currencies are added to thehousing means, the RF tags are read within the first time interval andthe number is detected within the second time interval. So, from whenthe new gaming currencies are added to the housing means at least untilany longer one of the first time interval and the second time interval,the reading of the RF tags and the detection of the number by the meansother than the RFID are completed, and alarms can be generated whenneeded. Therefore, the dealer houses the gaming currencies collectedfrom the players according to the results of a game in the housingmeans, and can inspect the gaming currencies immediately after thegaming currencies are collected from the players.

The inspection system according to another aspect of the presentembodiment is an inspection system for inspecting a gaming currency usedfor a game played on a table, comprising a housing means installed onthe table, the housing means housing plural gaming currencies, thenumber of the plural gaming currencies being increased or decreased foreach game, and an inspection means for inspecting the gaming currencies,the number of the gaming currencies being increased or decreased foreach game in the housing means.

The inspection system according to further another aspect of the presentembodiment is an inspection system for inspecting a gaming currency inwhich an RF tag is built, comprising: a housing means capable of housinga predetermined number of gaming currencies; an RF reading means forreading RF tags of the plural gaming currencies housed in the housingmeans; and an alarm means for generating an alarm when the number of thegaming currencies whose RF tags are read by the RF reading means is notequal to the predetermined number.

By this configuration, while the number of the gaming currencies thatcan be housed in the housing means are housed, the RF tags are read bythe RF reading means and the number of the tags is compared to thenumber that can be housed, so that the gaming currencies whose RF tagscannot be read are detected and the alarms can be generated.

The inspection system may further comprise a dummy currency in which theRF tag is built, the dummy currency being to be housed in the housingmeans together with the gaming currencies, such that the predeterminednumber is reached in total with the gaming currencies, when the numberof the gaming currencies is below the predetermined number.

By this configuration, when the gaming currencies of the number thatdoes not reach the number that can be housed by the housing means(housable number) are inspected, dummy currencies of the shortage numberare housed in the housing means, so that the alarms can be generatedwhen an ideal value of the number of the RF tags to be read by the RFreading means is not equal to the housable number.

The inspection system in the present embodiment is not limited to aninspection system for inspecting gaming currencies, and can be appliedas an inspection system for inspecting an arbitrary valuable, in whichan RF tag is built. In this case, an inspection system for a valuablecomprises: a valuable to which a unique ID that is individuallyidentifiable is attached; a table on which the valuable is used; a trayfor holding the valuable on the table; a determination means forspecifying the number of valuables held on the tray using each uniqueID; a detection means for shooting the valuables on the table includingat least the tray to create an image, and detecting at least the numberof the valuables based on the image; a storage means for storing thenumber detected by the detection means; and an inspection means forinspecting a relationship between the number determined by thedetermination means and the number detected by the detection means.

The inspection system in the present embodiment is not limited to aninspection system for inspecting gaming currencies, and can be appliedas an inspection system for inspecting an arbitrary object, in which anRF tag is built. In this case, the inspection system comprises: an RFreading means for reading the RF tag of the object located at apredetermined place; a detection means for detecting at least the numberof the objects located at the predetermined place in a method other thanan RFID; and an alarm means for generating alarms when the number of theobjects whose RF tag is read by the RF reading means is not equal to thenumber detected by the detection means.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, specific embodiments willbe explained. The following explanation is merely exemplified, and thepresent embodiments are not limited to the following examples. An RF tagfor storing information (tag information) such as its kind andidentification information is built in a gaming currency used in theinspection system in the present embodiment. Any of the gamingcurrencies C that are explained in the first to fifth embodiments can beadopted as a gaming currency used in the present embodiment. By readingthe RF tag built in the gaming currency with a below-described RFreader, the tag information stored in the RF tag can be read.

FIG. 64 is a plan view of a gaming currency tray for housing the gamingcurrency. Plural grooves 6171 for stacking and housing the gamingcurrencies C in its thickness direction are formed on the gamingcurrency tray 617. The grooves 6171 are formed in a semi-cylindricalshape to house the disc-shaped gaming currencies C. Each groove 6171 canhouse 40 gaming currencies C, and 14 grooves 6171 are formed on thegaming currency tray 617 in parallel to each other in a verticaldirection.

Plural photosensors 6173 are embedded on both of right and left sides ofan inner wall of each groove 6171. As not shown in FIG. 64, an antennaof an RF reader is embedded inside each groove 6171. The gaming currencytray 617 is embedded and utilized in front of a dealer position of agame table of a casino.

FIG. 65 is a diagram indicating an antenna 6172 of an RF reader(hereinafter referred to as “RF antenna”). The RF antenna 6712 isinstalled at an inner part or a bottom part of the gaming currency tray671 corresponding to each groove 6171. Also, FIG. 65 shows only fourgrooves; however, other grooves 6171 are similar.

In the example of FIG. 65, one RF antenna 6172 is installed to onegroove 6171. The RF antenna 6172 is radio-communicated with the RF tagbuilt in the gaming currency C housed in the corresponding groove 6171,and read the RF information from the RF tag. An electric wave shieldingwall may be provided between the adjacent grooves 6171, so that each RFantenna 6172 does not read the RF tag of the gaming currency C housed inthe next groove 6171.

FIG. 66 is an enlarged plane view and a front-direction cross sectionview of the groove 6171. The gaming currencies C are stacked in alongitudinal direction of the groove 6171 and housed in the groove 6171.In the example of FIG. 66, 40 gaming currencies C can be housed in onegroove 6171.

Plural photosensors 6713 are embedded on the right and left sides of aninner wall with a semicircular cross section, so that sensing faces areflush with the inner wall. The photosensors 6713 are reflection-typephotosensors, and detect the gaming currencies C when the sensing facesare blocked with the gaming currencies C by housing the gamingcurrencies C in the groove 6171.

The plural photosensors are aligned on the right and left sides of theinner wall at a pitch of thickness of the 2 gaming currencies C. In thisexample, as described above, 40 gaming currencies C can be housed in onegroove 6171. So, 20 photosensors 6173 are provided on the right side,and 20 photosensors 6173 are provided on the left side.

The line of the plural photosensors 6173 on the right side is displacedfrom the line of the plural photosensors 6173 on the left side by thethickness of one gaming currency C. Therefore, the plural gamingcurrencies C stacked and housed in the groove 6171 are detected by thephotosensors 6173 arranged in different lines in an order of stacking.Concretely, the gaming currency C housed a lowermost position of thegroove 6171 is detected by the photosensor 6173 at a lowermost part onthe right side, the second gaming currency C from the bottom is detectedby the photosensor at a lowermost part on the left side, the thirdgaming currency C from the bottom is detected by the second photosensor6173 from the bottom on the right side, and the fourth gaming currency Cfrom the bottom is detected by the second photosensor 6173 from thebottom on the left side. In this manner, right side photosensors 6183and left side photosensors 6173 alternately detect the gaming currenciesC sequentially from the bottom.

In this manner, the plural photosensors 6173 are alternately arranged inthe different lines, so that the plural photosensors 6173 for readingthe plural gaming currencies C stacked and housed in the groove 6171 inthe thickness direction one by one can be arranged.

FIG. 67 is a diagram indicating an entire configuration of theinspection system. As shown in FIG. 67, an inspection system 600comprises: an RF reader 6100 having an RF antenna 6172; pluralphotosensors 6173; an inspection/alarm part 6200 connected to the RFreader 6100 and the plural photosensors 6173; and a storage part 6300connected to the inspection/alarm part 6200. The inspection/alarm part6200 is configured by a computer including a processor and a memory, andis realized by processor's executing an inspection/alarm program in thepresent embodiment.

The RF reader 6100 receives electric waves from the RF tag of the gamingcurrency C with the RF antenna 6172, and reads information (taginformation) stored in the RF tag. The RF reader outputs the read taginformation to the inspection/alarm part 6200. As shown in FIG. 65, theinspection system 600 comprises plural RF antennas 6172. The plural RFantennas 6172 may be connected to one RF reader 6100, and the plural RFreaders 6100 may be provided corresponding to the plural RF antennas6172.

The plural photosensors 6173 are respectively connected to theinspection/alarm part 6200, and transmits sensing information to theinspection/alarm part 6200. The sensing information of each photosensor6173 is information indicating existence of the gaming currency C.

The inspection/alarm part 6200 compares the number of the taginformation read by the RF reader 6100 with the number of detectioninformation of the gaming currencies C obtained from the pluralphotosensors 6173. In this case, the inspection/alarm part 6200determines whether the tag information is true or false, and may compareonly the number of the tag information determined as true with thenumber of the detection information of the photosensors 6173.

When the true RF tags are built in all of the plural gaming currencieshoused in the gaming currency tray 617, the number of the taginformation read by the RF reader 6100 must be equal to the number ofthe gaming currencies C detected by the photosensors 6173. Thus, theinspection/alarm part 6200 determines whether or not the numbers areequal to each other, and generates alarms when the numbers are not equalto each other.

The generated alarms are outputted in a system that can be sensed by aperson with alarm means (not shown). For example, when the alarm meansis a loudspeaker, the inspection/alarm part 6200 generates signals foroutputting predetermined alarm sounds from the loudspeaker as alarms.When the alarm means is a lamp, the inspection/alarm part 6200 generatessignals for lighting the lamp as alarms.

The RF reader 6100 reads the tag information at a predetermined timeinterval (for example, one-second interval). Also, the photosensor 6173executes detection at a predetermined time interval (for example,2-second interval). The RF reader 6100 and the photosensor 6173 mayalways execute reading and detection.

Also, the RF reader reads the tag information at a predetermined timeinterval or always, and the inspection/alarm part 6200 determineswhether or not there is a change of the plural pieces of the read taginformation. When there is a change, detection may be executed by thephotosensor 6173 according to the control of the inspection/alarm part6200. On the other hand, the gaming currencies C are detected by theplural photosensors 6173 at a predetermined time interval or always, andthe inspection/alarm part 6200 determines whether or not there is achange of the number of the detected gaming currencies C. When there isa change, the tag information may be read by the RF reader 6100according to the control of the inspection/alarm part 6200.

When alarms are generated by the inspection/alarm part 6200, the alarmmeans immediately outputs alarms. Therefore, within a predetermined timefrom when and immediately after the unfair gaming currency is housed inthe gaming currency tray 617, the alarms are outputted. Thus, it can begrasped from which player playing on the table at that time the unfaircurrency is delivered. Also, the game is once stopped, so that theunfair gaming currency can be prevented from being used furthermore. Insome cases, the player who delivers the unfair gaming currency can bespecified among players playing on that table.

The inspection/alarm part 6200 records the results of inspection(comparison) and the generated alarms together with the information ofdate and time, in the record part 6300.

FIG. 68 is a plane view indicating the other example of the gamingcurrency tray. In the example of FIG. 68, in addition to plural grooves(stock grooves) 6171 in a vertical direction for housing the gamingcurrencies C, horizontal grooves (collecting grooves) 6174 used to housethe gaming currencies C the dealer collects from the players areprovided above them. Also, in the example of FIG. 68, the photosensor6173 is not provided on a stock groove 6171, the photosensors 6173 areembedded in a collection groove 6174 at an arrangement similar to FIG.66, and an RF antenna 6172 (not shown) is embedded under the collectiongroove 6174.

The number of the gaming currencies C housed in the collection groove6174 is increased or decreased per game. Accordingly, the collectiongroove 6174 is provided with the photosensor 6173 and the RF antenna6172, so that an interval of inspection is made sufficiently short. Thegaming currencies C immediately after collected from the players can beinspected per game. When the unfair gaming currency is detected, aplayer holding it can be specified, or a game can be stopped. Also, whenthe gaming currencies C of not less than a constant number or a housablenumber are housed in the collection groove 6174, some or all of them maybe transferred to the stock groove 6171.

FIG. 69 is a plane view indicating the further example of the gamingcurrency tray. In the example of FIG. 69, the collection groove 6175 isprovided at a right end in a vertical direction. Then, the photosensor6173 and the RF antenna 6172 (not shown) are provided on the collectiongroove 6175.

FIG. 70 is a plane view indicating the further example of the gamingcurrency tray. In the example of FIG. 70, grooves in the verticaldirection are divided into two stages of upper and lower grooves 6176,6177 that can respectively house 20 gaming currencies C. Each groove 617can house 20 gaming currencies C. As is similar to the example of FIG.64, photosensors 6173 are alternately provided on each groove 617 onboth of right and left sides. In the gaming currency tray 617 in thisexample, the number of the stacked gaming currencies C is small, so thatdisplacement between the stacked and housed gaming currencies C and thephotosensor 6173 can be avoided from being large.

In the examples of FIGS. 69 and 70, the photosensor 6173 and the RFantenna 6172 are provided on the collection groove as well, so thegaming currencies C can be inspected immediately after collection.

FIG. 71 is a diagram indicating another configuration of an RF antenna.In the above-mentioned sixth embodiment, one RF antenna is provided onone groove 6171. As shown in FIGS. 71, one RF antenna 6172 may beconfigured and arranged to read the RF tags of the gaming currencies Choused in the plural grooves 6171.

In the above-mentioned sixth embodiment, when inspecting the gamingcurrencies C, it is determined whether or not the number of the gamingcurrencies C whose RF tags are read by the RF reader 6100 is equal tothe number of the gaming currencies C detected by physical means otherthan RFID, so as to detect the unfair gaming currency that does not havean RF tag or whose RF tag is broken. Then, the photosensors 6173 fordetecting the existence of the gaming currencies one by one is used asmeans for detecting the number of the gaming currencies C physicallywith means other than RFID.

However, means for physically detecting the number of the gamingcurrencies C with means other than RFID is not limited to pluralphotosensors. Hereinafter, the other example of the detection means willbe explained.

FIG. 72 is a diagram indicating one groove of a gaming currency trayusing a line sensor as detection means. As shown in FIG. 72, a slit 6178extending in a longitudinal direction of the groove 6171 is formed at abottom of an inner wall of the groove 6171, and a line sensor 6179 isprovided along the slit 6178 below the slit 6178. A pixel pitch in thelongitudinal direction of the line sensor 6179 is set smaller than thethickness of the gaming currency C (the pixel number in the longitudinaldirection of the line sensor 6179 is set sufficiently larger than thehousing number of the gaming currencies C of the groove 6171).

FIG. 73 is a diagram indicating an entire configuration of an inspectionsystem 600 in the example of FIG. 72. The line sensor 6179 is connectedto the inspection/alarm part 6200. The line sensor 6179 acquires a lineimage by picking up an image. The line sensor 6179 outputs the acquiredline image to the inspection/alarm part 6200. The inspection/alarm part6200 detects the number of the gaming currencies C housed in the groove6171 by determining to where there are gaming currencies C from thebottom, based on the line image.

The RF antenna 6172 and the RF reader 6100 are similar to those in theabove-mentioned sixth embodiment. The inspection/alarm part 6200executes inspection by comparing the number of the tag information readby the RF reader 6100 with the number of the gaming currencies Cdetected from the line image, and generates alarms when the numbers arenot equal to each other. The record part 6300 records the inspectionresults of the inspection/alarm part 6200 and the generated alarms.

FIG. 74 is a diagram indicating one groove of the gaming currency trayusing a scanner as the detection means. As shown in FIG. 74, a slit 6178extending in a longitudinal direction of the groove 6171 is formed atthe bottom of the inner wall of the groove 6171, and a rail 6181 isprovided along the slit 6178 under the slit 6178. An imaging element6180 moves on the rail 6181, so as to constitute a scanner.

FIG. 75 is a diagram indicating an entire configuration of theinspection system 600 in the example of FIG. 74. The imaging element6180 is connected to the inspection/alarm part 6200. The imaging element6180 picks up an image while moving on the rail 6178, and outputs theinformation of a position on the rail and the picked-up image at thatposition to the inspection/alarm part 6200. The inspection/alarm part6200 determines the existence of the gaming currencies C for the pluralpicked-up images obtained by picking up an image while the imagingelement 6180 is moving in one direction from one end to the other end onthe rail 6181, so as to detect the number of the gaming currencies Choused in the groove 6171.

FIG. 76 is a diagram indicating one groove of the gaming currency trayusing a laser distance meter as detection means. As shown in FIG. 76, alaser distance meter 6182 is provided at an upper end of the groove6171. The laser of the laser distance meter 6182 is set parallel to thelongitudinal direction of the groove 6171. When the gaming currencies Cstacked sequentially from the bottom are housed in the groove 6171, thelaser emitted from the laser distance meter 6182 is reflected on thesurface of the uppermost gaming currency C, and returned to the laserdistance meter 6182. Accordingly, the laser distance meter 6182 measuresa distance from an observation position to the gaming currency Cfurthest away from a reference position (the gaming currency C stackedat the uppermost part), when the upper end of the groove 6171 is anobservation groove and the lower end is a reference position.

FIG. 77 is a diagram indicating the entire configuration of theinspection system 600 in the example of FIG. 76. The laser distancemeter 6182 is connected to the inspection/alarm part 6200, and outputsthe measured distance to the inspection/alarm part 6200. The larger thenumber of the gaming currencies C housed in the groove 6171 gets, thesmaller the measured distance gets. Therefore, the inspection/alarm part6200 detects the number of the gaming currencies C housed in the groove6171, based on the distance measured by the laser distance meter 6182.

FIG. 78 is a diagram indicating one groove of the gaming tray using aweight meter as detection means. As shown in FIG. 78, the groove 6171 islocated on a weight meter 6183. When the gaming currency C is housed inthe groove 6171, the weight measured by the weight meter 6183 isincreased.

FIG. 79 is a diagram indicating the entire configuration of theinspection system 600 in the example of FIG. 78. The weight meter 6183is connected to the inspection/alarm part 6200, and outputs the measuredweight to the inspection/alarm part 6200. The larger the number of thegaming currencies C housed in the groove 6171 gets, the heavier themeasured weight gets. Therefore, the inspection/alarm part 6200 detectsthe number of the gaming currencies C housed in the groove 6171, basedon the weight measured by the weight meter 6183.

In any of the above-mentioned examples, the detection means fordetecting the number of the gaming currencies C housed in the groove6171 by means other than RFID is provided; however, it may not beprovided. The maximum number for housing the gaming currencies C in thegroove 6171 is decided. So, when the RF tags are read while the maximumnumber of the gaming currencies C are housed in the groove 6171, thenumber of the gaming currencies C physically existing at that time isalready known as a maximum number.

Accordingly, the inspection/alarm part 6200 can detect the unfair gamingcurrency that does not have an RF tag or whose RF tag is broken, bycomparing the number of the gaming currencies C whose tag information isread by the RF reader with the known maximum number.

However, the maximum number of the gaming currencies C cannot be alwayshoused in the groove 6171 to be inspected. Then, using a spacer as adummy currency, a vacant portion in the groove 6171 may be filled. Thespacer may have the same shape (disc-like shape) as the gaming currencyC, and may have the same shape (columnar shape) as the plural stackedgaming currencies C.

FIG. 80 is diagram indicating a status that a vacant space of the grooveis filled by the spacer. The groove 6171 can house 40 gaming currenciesC (the maximum housing number is 40), and 30 gaming currencies C arehoused in the groove 6171. To fill a vacant space of 10 gamingcurrencies, one spacer 6184 for 5 gaming currencies, one spacer 6184 for3 gaming currencies, and two spacers 6184 for one gaming currency arehoused in the groove 6171.

The RF tags of the number of the currencies are built in the spacer6184. For example, 5 RF tags are built in the spacer 6184 for 5currencies, 3 RF tags are built in the spacer 6184 for 3 currencies, andone RF tag is built in the spacer 6184 for one currency.

Accordingly, when all of 30 gaming currencies C housed in the groove6171 are fair, the RF reader 6100 reads 40 pieces of the tag informationincluding the RF tags built in the spacer 6184. The inspection/alarmpart 6200 determines that the unfair gaming currencies exists, andgenerates alarms, when the number of the tag information read by the RFreader 6100 is not equal to a predetermined value, i.e., the housablenumber of the gaming currencies C in the groove 6171.

FIG. 81 is a diagram indicating the entire configuration of theinspection system 600 in the example of FIG. 80. As described above,there is no need of detection means in the example of FIG. 80. Ifinspection is executed at an arbitrary timing, a vacant space is createdin the groove 6171, so the RF reader 6100 cannot read a predeterminednumber of tag information, and may generate alarms. Accordingly, in theexample of FIG. 81, a switch 6185 for instructing inspection at theinspection/alarm part 6200 is provided. The switch 6185 is pushed togenerate ON signals.

The switch 6185 is connected to the inspection/alarm part 6200, andoutputs the ON signals to the inspection/alarm part 6200. Theinspection/alarm part 6200 instructs execution of reading to the RFreader 6100, when receiving the ON signals from the switch 6185.

The dealer collects the gaming currencies C from players losing a game,houses them in the groove 6171, houses the spacer 6184 in the vacantspacer, and pushes the switch 6185 after there is no vacant space of thegroove 6171. Then, the RF reader 6100 reads the RF tags, and theinspection/alarm part 6200 executes inspection by determining whetherthe number of the read tag information is equal to a predeterminednumber.

In the sixth embodiment, a system for inspecting gaming currencies usedin a casino game is explained, but an object to be inspected may be avaluable other than a gaming currency C. Also, the RF tag is embedded inthe gaming currency, but a unique ID that can be individually identifiedby the other method may be adhered.

Also, in the sixth embodiment, various means for detecting the number ofthe gaming currencies C by means other than RFID are explained. Themeans for detecting the number of the gaming currencies C may be meansfor detecting the number of the gaming currencies including the unfairgaming currencies as the players and the dealer identify them as thegaming currencies C, for example, may be means for detecting the numberof the currencies based on an image by picking up the image of thegaming currencies C housed in the gaming currency tray 617 with acamera, as in the example explained below.

Furthermore, the inspection system may inspect an object other than avaluable.

FIG. 82 is a diagram of the entire configuration of the inspectionsystem for inspecting an object, in which the RF tag is built. Theinspection system 6001 comprises a table B for locating an object. Theobject located on the table B is imaged with a camera 6400, and thepicked-up image is generated. The camera 6400 is connected to theinspection/alarm part 6200, and the picked-up image is outputted to theinspection/alarm part 6200. The inspection/alarm part 6200 comprises aneural network learnt by deep learning. The number of objects isidentified from the picked-up image by the neural network, so as todetect the number of the objects.

Also, an RF antenna 6172 is built in the table B. The RF tag built inthe object located on the table B transmits electric waves to the RFantenna 6172, and the RF reader 6100 reads the tag information.

The inspection/alarm part 6200 compares the number of the taginformation read by the RF reader 6100 with the number of the objectsidentified by the neural network, and generates alarms when both of thenumbers are not equal to each other. In this manner, the number of theobjects whose fairness is not known but that exist is detected by thecamera 6400 that is means other than RFID. By reading the RF tags ofthese objects, and comparing the number of the read tag information withthe number detected by the camera 6400, the objects whose RF taginformation cannot be read can be detected.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1, Playing card-   1 s, Plurality of sample playing card-   2, Camera device-   3, Card distributing device-   4, Game table-   5, Dealer-   6, Guest (game participant/player)-   7, Chair-   8, Bet area-   10, Area-   10P, Player area-   10B, Banker area-   11, Game recording device-   12, Image analyzing device-   13, Result display lamp-   14, Control device-   14C, Card distribution detecting device-   15, Output (abnormality determination result and the like)-   16, Abnormality display lamp-   30, Distribution limiting device-   33, Slot-   34, Lock member-   35, Driving unit-   36, Lock member-   37, Driving unit-   40, Distribution limiting device-   102, Card housing unit-   103, Index-   105, Card guiding unit-   106, Opening portion-   107, Card guide-   109, Control unit-   112, Side monitor-   120, Gaming currency-   121, Coloring layer-   122, White layer-   123, Print-   124, Transparent layer (print layer)-   125, RFID-   126, Side ID-   200, Inspection device-   201, Inlet-   202, Outlet-   203, Passage-   204, Determination device-   205, Mark reading device-   206, Print inspecting device-   207, Control device-   41, Inspection system-   4100, 4100′, Cases-   4101, 4101′, top parts-   4102, Lower part-   4200, Inspection device-   4210, Receiving part-   4211, Side wall-   4212, Bottom part-   4213, Deep wall-   4220, Main body part-   4221, RFID reader-   4222, Computer-   4223, Display part-   4224, RFID antenna-   4225, Infrared-ray camera-   4226, Visible-light camera-   4227, Arm-   4228, Barcode reader-   4229, Communication part-   4230, Identification part-   4231, Determination part-   4301, Manufacturing device-   4302, Manufacture management device-   4303, Use management device-   4501, Specific coloring layer-   4502, Common coloring layer-   4503, RFID tag-   4504, Transparent layer-   4505, 4505′, Code information-   4506, Printing-   4507, Printing-   4800, Good/bad results display screen-   4801, Total detection number-   4802, Number of correct gaming currencies C-   4803, Number of unfair gaming currencies C-   4804, Currency information display part-   4805, Unfair currency information-   C, C′, C″, Gaming currencies-   m, m′, m″, Marks-   51, Inspection system-   5100, 5100′, Cases-   5101, 5101′, Top parts-   5102, Lower part-   5200, 5400, Inspection devices-   5210, Receiving part-   5211, Side wall-   5212, Bottom part-   5213, Deep wall-   5220, Main body part-   5221, 5421, Reading devices-   5222, 5422, Determination parts-   5223, Display part-   5224, 5424, Radio tag antennas-   5228, Barcode reader-   5229, Communication part-   5230, Identification part-   5231, Identification contents determination part-   5301, Manufacturing device-   5302, Manufacture management device-   5303, Information database-   5425, Number control plate-   5426, Optical sensor-   5427, Inspection TABLE-   5501, Specific coloring layer-   5502, Common coloring layer-   5503, Radio tag-   5504, Transparent layer-   5505, 5505′, Code information-   5506, Printing-   5507, Printing-   5800, Good/bad results display screen-   5801, Total detection number-   5802, Number of correct gaming currencies C-   5803, Number of unfair gaming currencies C-   5804, Currency information display part-   5805, Unfair currency information-   600, 601, Inspection systems-   617, Gaming currency tray-   6171, Groove-   6172, RF antenna-   6173, Photosensor-   6174, 6175, Collection grooves-   6176, Upper stage groove-   6177, Lower stage groove-   6179, Line sensor-   6180, Imaging element-   6181, Rail-   6182, Laser distance meter-   6183, Weight meter-   6184, Spacer-   6185, Switch-   6100, RF reader-   6200, Inspection/alarm part-   6300, Record part-   6400, Camera

1. An inspection system for inspection of a plurality of chips, theinspection system comprising: a first storage location configured tostore a first set of chips of the plurality of chips, the first set ofchips collected by a dealer from a player, each chip of the plurality ofchips including an radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag embedded inthe chip; a first reading device configured to read, for each chip ofthe first set of chips, the RFID tag of the chip stored at the firststorage location; and a control device configured to, based on thenumber of the RFID tags read by the first reading device being less thanthe number of the chips stored in the first storage location, determinethat there is at least one abnormal chip of the first set of chips, theat least one abnormal chip associated with an abnormal RFID tag.
 2. Theinspection system according to claim 1, further comprising: an acquiringdevice configured detect the first set of chips stored at the firststorage location by means other than RFID to acquire the number of thefirst set of chips stored at the first storage location, wherein thecontrol device is further configured determine that there is at leastone abnormal chip based on the number of the RFID tags read by the firstreading device is less than the number of first set of chips acquired bythe acquiring device.
 3. An inspection system according to claim 2,wherein the acquiring device comprises: an image sensor configured tocapture an image of the first set of chips stored at the first storagelocation; and an analyzing device configured to acquire the number offirst set of chips stored at the first storage location based on theimage.
 4. The inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the numberof the first set of chips stored at the first storage location is apredetermined number.
 5. The inspection system according to claim 4,further comprising: a storage device configured to store thepredetermined number of the plurality of chips, wherein the controldevice is further configured to determine that there is an abnormal chipwhen the number of the RFID tags read by the first reading device isless than the known number.
 6. The inspection system according to claim1, further comprising: a second storage location configured to store asecond set of chips of the plurality of chips, the second set of chipsinclude one or more chips of the first set of chips stored at the firststorage location and transferred to the second storage location; and asecond reading device configured to read, for each chip of the secondset of chip, the RFID tag of the chip stored at the second storage;wherein the control device is configured to, based on the number of theRFID tags read by the second reading device being less than the numberof the chips stored in the second storage location, determine that thereis an abnormal chip of the second set of chips, the abnormal chipassociated with an RFID tag that is abnormal.
 7. The inspection systemaccording to claim 6, wherein the second storage is provided in thevicinity of the first storage location.
 8. The inspection systemaccording to claim 6, wherein the first storage location and the secondstorage location are provided in the same chip tray.
 9. The inspectionsystem according to claim 1, further comprising: a management deviceconfigured to store identification information of the plurality ofchips, wherein, for each chip of the plurality of chips: the RFID tag ofthe chip is configured to store the identification information of thechip, and the control device is further configured to determine theauthenticity of the at least one abnormal chip based on whether or notthe identification information read from the RFID tag by the firstreading device is stored in the management device.
 10. The inspectionsystem according to claim 1, further comprising a display deviceconfigured to display an output associated with the number of the RFIDtags read by the first reading device to enable a comparison based onthe number of the chips stored at the first storage location and thenumber of the RFID tags read by the first reading device.
 11. Theinspection system according to claim 10, wherein the display device isfurther configured to displays the number of the first set of chipsstored in the first storage location.
 12. The inspection systemaccording to claim 10, further comprising: an image capturing deviceconfigured to capture an image of side faces of the first set of chipsat the in the first storage location, wherein the display device isfurther configured to display an output that indicates that there is adiscrepancy based on a difference between the number of the chipscaptured in the image does and the number of the RFID tags read by thefirst reading device.
 13. An inspection system for inspection ofplurality of chips, the inspection system comprising: a first storagelocation configured to store a first set of chips of the a plurality ofthe chips, each chip of the plurality of chips including anradio-frequency identification (RFID) tag embedded in the chip; a firstreading device configured to read, for each chip of the first set ofchips, the RFID tag of the chip stored at the first storage location;and a display device configured to display an output associated with thenumber of the RFID tags read by the first reading device to enable acomparison based on the number of the chips stored at the first storagelocation and the number of the RFID tags read by the first readingdevice.
 14. The inspection system according to claim 13, furthercomprising: a second storage location different from the first storagelocation and configured to store a second set of chips of the pluralityof the chips; and a second reading device configured to read, for eachchip of the second set of chips, the RFID tag of the chip stored at thesecond storage location.
 15. The inspection system according to claim13, wherein the display device is further configured to displays thenumber of chips stored in the first storage location.
 16. The inspectionsystem according to claim 13, further comprising: an image capturingdevice configured to capture an image of side faces of the first set ofchips at the in the first storage location, wherein the display deviceis further configured to display an output that indicates that there isa discrepancy based on a difference between the number of the chipscaptured in the image does and the number of the RFID tags read by thefirst reading device.
 17. A method comprising: at a control device of aninspection system for a plurality of chips, each chip of the pluralityof chips including an radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag isembedded in the chip, performing operations comprising: receiving afirst indicator of a number of a first set of chips of a plurality ofchips, the first set of chips stored at a storage location configured tostore one or more chips collected by a dealer from a player; receiving,from a first reading device, a first indication of a number of RFID tagsread by the first device of the first set of chips stored at a storagelocation, the storage location configured to store; and generating anoutput based on a determination that the number of the RFID tags read bythe first reading device being different than the number of the firstset of chips stored at the storage location.
 18. The method according toclaim 17, wherein generating the output includes generating the outputbased on the number of the RFID tags read by the first reading devicebeing less than the number of the chips stored in the first storage. 19.The method according to claim 17, wherein the output is associated withan indication that at least one chip of the first set of chips includesan RFID tag that is abnormal.
 20. The method according to claim 17,further comprising: performing a comparison based on the number of RFIDtags read by the first device and the number of the first set of chipsstored at the storage location; determining that the number of the RFIDtags read by the first reading device is different than the number ofthe first set of chips stored at the storage location; and providing theoutput to a device configured to generate an alarm based on the output.